Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Spring Lamb Meatballs with a Refreshing, Spicy Yogurt Dipping Sauce

After what feels like a forever, Spring is finally here. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining (sometimes) and the temperatures are inching towards warm...spring is definitely springing. As part of my "thank God I get to cook again" extravaganza this weekend, I wanted to make something uniquely spring like, incorporating all of the light, fresh flavors that the season brings. I settled on lamb meatballs with a yogurt dipping sauce.


1 lb ground lamb
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 cup fresh peas, blanched
2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
1 tbsp lemon zest
1/2 to 3/4 cup bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
Salt
Pepper


Combine all ingredients in a medium size bowl. In corporate the bread crumbs as needed until the mixture is bound together but not dry. Form meatballs, and then place on a lined cookie sheet and bake for about 40 minutes in a 400 degree oven.


Spicy yogurt sauce


1 cup non fat Greek yogurt
1 Serrano pepper, chopped
1 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
1 tsp fresh Lemon zest
Honey
Salt


In a small food processor, or with an immersion blender combined the ingredients and blend, tasting and adding the honey until it's sweetness is present but not over powering the other flavors.

I served these simply, on a plate with the yogurt sauce drizzled over the top.  The flavor combinations were really powerful.  The meatballs had a wonderful "fresh" flavor from the mint and the lemon zest which worked together to really embody the spring feel.  The fresh green peas added a perfect burst of sweetness in each bite, and the dense ground lamb was a perfect backdrop for the flavors to layer.  When paired with the yogurt sauce the dish came alive with the spice from the Serrano pepper, and the sweetness of the honey.  I've been a little obsessed with these meat balls since- I'm already wondering what they would be like using super lean ground turkey rather than lamb...

4 comments:

Jen said...

Yay for spring! Lamb meatballs with peas sound great.

Delicious Dishings said...

I've never made lamb meatballs but they would be right up my alley, especially with that yogurt sauce. I'm so excited for spring -- now if we could just get rid of all this rainy, gloomy weather!

Kristen said...

these sound excellent!!

Emily @ A Cambridge Story said...

YUM! What a great combo. I was just thinking of making lamp - on kebobs - but same idea, with yogurt!

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