Spiced Lamb Meatballs With Yogurt And Herbs 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.

SPICE-RUBBED LAMB RACK WITH YOGURT AND FRESH HERBS

Steps:

• Make the spice rub: Combine the peppercorns, coriander seeds, fennel seeds and cumin seeds in a small dry skillet over medium-high heat; cook, stirring, until toasted, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a spice grinder and grind to a fine powder. In a small bowl, mix the freshly ground spices with the paprika, cayenne and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Preheat a grill to medium high and prepare for indirect grilling: For a charcoal grill, bank the hot coals to one side and leave the other half empty. For a gas grill, preheat all the burners, then turn off half the burners and keep the others on medium-high heat.
• Grill the lamb: Coat the lamb with the olive oil and sprinkle with the spice mixture. Grill over direct heat, turning as needed, until browned all over, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to indirect heat (the unlit side of the grill); cover and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the lamb registers 125 degrees F for medium-rare doneness, 20 to 24 minutes. Transfer the lamb to a cutting board and let rest 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the yogurt sauce: In a small bowl, mix the labne, olive oil, herbs, Aleppo pepper, lemon zest and 2 teaspoons lemon juice. Season with salt, black pepper and more lemon juice, if desired. Carve the lamb racks and serve with the yogurt sauce.