PEPPER MONKEY LAMB MEATBALLS

Pepper Monkey Lamb Meatballs image

Provided by Ardie A. Davis

Yield Makes about 48 meatballs, serving 10 to 12

Number Of Ingredients 26

Spicy Afgan Green Sauce
1 bunch fresh cilantro
1/2 to 1 jalapeño, depending on how spicy you want your sauce
1 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves
3 cloves garlic
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons seasoned salt
Juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon agave nectar
Meatballs
1 tablespoon cumin seeds (see Notes)
2 tablespoons coriander seeds
Seeds from 4 cardamom pods
Seeds from 2 star anise
1 tablespoon ground turmeric
3 tablespoons seasoned salt
1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon cayenne
4 to 5 pounds ground lamb (see Notes)
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons peeled, finely chopped fresh ginger
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 bunch fresh mint, chopped
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 cup cooked spinach, chopped

Steps:

Make the Spicy Afghan Green Sauce: Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. This can be done 1 to 3 days in advance. It is best to make the sauce at least 1 day in advance to give the flavors time to blend.
Preheat a grill to about 375°F for direct cooking.
Make the meatballs: Place the cumin, coriander, cardamom seeds, and star anise in a small skillet over medium heat and toast until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Let cool, then grind in a spice or coffee grinder. Add the turmeric, seasoned salt, black pepper, cinnamon, and cayenne and mix well.
Place the ground lamb in a large bowl. Add the spices along with the onion, ginger, garlic, mint, feta, and spinach and mix well, but do not overmix as this will result in a tough texture. Form the mixture into meatballs 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
Place the meatballs on the grill grate and cook for about 14 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F on a meat thermometer, rotating the meatballs frequently to ensure that they caramelize evenly.
Serve with the dipping sauce.