Best Spiced Lamb Meatballs With Walnut Romesco Recipes

SPICED LAMB MEATBALLS WITH YOGURT AND HERBS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, use your hands to combine lamb, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, onion, cumin, coriander, cinnamon and cayenne. Beat 2 of the eggs and add to meat, mixing until incorporated. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 24 hours to allow the seasonings to permeate the meat.
• Using wet hands, break off walnut-sized pieces of lamb mixture, roll into spheres and set aside on a baking sheet. You should have about 30 1-ounce meatballs.
• Heat oven to 225 degrees. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. When shimmering, add meatballs in one layer and brown for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn and cook for 4 to 5 minutes more. (Work in batches, if necessary, to avoid crowding the pan.) Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to blot any extra oil, then pile meatballs on a heatproof serving platter and keep warm in the oven.
• Pour off any excess oil from skillet and turn heat to high. Add broth and bring to a simmer. In a bowl, whisk together yogurt; 1/2 teaspoon salt; remaining egg, beaten; and cornstarch. Pour yogurt mixture in a thin stream into the hot broth, whisking constantly. Turn heat down slightly and continue whisking until yogurt is heated through and slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Do not let mixture boil.
• Pour hot yogurt sauce over meatballs. Sprinkle crumbled feta, sumac and crushed red pepper on top. Finish with pinches of turmeric, if using, and sprinkle with mint, dill and cilantro. Serve immediately with rice, orzo, pita bread or potatoes.

SPICED LAMB MEATBALLS WITH WALNUT ROMESCO

Steps:

• Sauce:
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Toast walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Toss bell pepper, tomato, and garlic with oil on a clean rimmed baking sheet and roast until browned and softened, 20-25 minutes. Let cool.
• Remove skin from bell pepper, tomato, and garlic; discard. Purée walnuts, bell pepper, tomato, garlic, oil, vinegar, chipotle chile powder, parsley, and paprika in a food processor until smooth. Season sauce with salt and black pepper.
• Meatballs and assembly:
• Toast coriander seeds in a dry small skillet over medium heat, swirling pan often and adding cumin seeds during the last 30 seconds, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Let cool, then finely grind in spice mill or with mortar and pestle.
• Pulse onion, cilantro, parsley, and 1 1/2 tsp. salt in a food processor until finely chopped. Transfer to a large kitchen towel. Gather ends of towel in each hand and twist over sink, wringing out as much liquid as possible. Mix onion mixture, spice mixture, egg yolk, paprika, black pepper, cayenne, and remaining 1 tsp. salt in a large bowl to combine. Gently fold lamb into spice mixture to evenly distribute (be careful not to overmix). Using a 1-oz. ice cream scoop or wet hands, form meat mixture into 1 1/2" balls (you should have 16).
• Heat oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Working in 2 batches, cook meatballs, turning occasionally, until browned all over and cooked through, 5-8 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve with walnut romesco sauce.