Spicy Lamb Meatball Bowl. Lamb can be an acquired taste. Years ago, the only lamb I got to taste was way overcooked and served with emerald green-colored mint jelly. I did not like lamb back then because of that preparation. Now, I do like lamb in a number of different ways. My husband makes a delicious roasted rack of lamb. And I make some tasty grilled lamb meatballs and grilled lamb burgers over lentils. Whole Foods Market carries good local ground lamb which I prefer. Buying local is always better in my opinion.
In the past few years, “one bowl dishes” have become popular. This “bowl” dish uses my Grilled Lamb Meatballs mixture that I would normally grill in larger “burger” sizes. Instead, I make bite-sized meatballs and saute them in a skillet in some olive oil and then braise them in chicken stock/broth. I serve the meatballs with sliced mini-cucumbers and quartered cherry tomatoes over a bed of cooked brown rice. A drizzle of cool tzatziki yogurt sauce and a sprinkling of chopped parsley and thinly sliced scallions finish the dish. This dish can be served warm or chilled.
Start by making the meatball mixture. I use my Grilled Lamb Meatballs recipe which will make about 4 dozen one-inch meatballs. This bowl recipe uses 12 meatballs. You can freeze the rest after browning them for later meals.
Form the meatballs into one inch balls. You can wet your hands with water so the meatball mixture doesn’t stick. Chill the meatballs in the refrigerator for at least an hour so they don’t fall apart when cooking.
Saute the lamb meatballs in olive oil and turn them several times until they have browned all over.
Braise the lamb meatballs in some chicken stock/broth for 10 minutes or until the liquid has mostly evaporated.
While the meatballs are braising, heat the pre-cooked brown rice in a pot.
Slice two mini-cucumbers into rounds. Quarter 8 cherry tomatoes.
Make the tzatziki sauce. Stir together some plain yogurt, lemon juice, minced cucumber, minced garlic, powdered cumin, chopped parsley, chopped mint, and salt.
When the meatball liquid is almost gone, the meatballs are ready to serve.
Divide the rice between two serving bowls.
Top the rice with the meatballs, cucumber slices, and cherry tomato quarters.
Drizzle with the tzatziki sauce and top with chopped parsley and sliced scallions.
And serve!
If you’re looking for other “bowl” ideas for lunch or dinner, try my Tex Mex Bowl as alternative to #TacoTuesday.
Enjoy!
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From the kitchen of A Food Lover’s Delight….
Spicy Lamb Meatball Bowl
Ingredients:
2 T olive oil
12 Spicy Lamb Meatballs (use grilled lamb meatballs recipe) and form into one inch round meatballs instead of the larger patties in the recipe
1/2 c chicken stock/broth
2 c cooked brown rice
1 T salted butter
2 mini-cucumbers, thinly sliced into coins
8 cherry tomatoes, quartered
2 T chopped parsley
1 scallion, thinly sliced
Tzatziki Sauce
1 c plain yogurt
1 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 T minced cucumber
1 clove garlic, minced
1 t powdered cumin
1 T finely chopped parsley
1 T finely chopped mint
1 t salt
Method:
1. In a skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil.
2. Saute the 12 chilled raw meatballs until they are brown on all sides and cooked through. I don’t mind a lamb meatball with a little pink inside but you might like them cooked well done.
3. When the meatballs are browned, add the chicken stock. Let the meatballs cook for a few minutes in the chicken stock/broth until the liquid reduces slightly.
4. While the meatballs are cooking, warm the pre-cooked brown rice in a pan. Stir in the butter as the rice is heating through.
5. Mix together the tzatziki sauce ingredients.
6. When the meatball liquid has mostly evaporated, the meatballs are ready to serve.
7. Divide the cooked rice between two serving bowls.
8. Top with the meatballs. Add cucumber slices and cherry tomatoes to each bowl.
9. Drizzle the meatball rice mixture with the tzatziki sauce.
10. Garnish with chopped parsley and sliced scallions.
11. And serve!
Serves two as a main course. Offer with some toasted pita triangles and My Favorite Hummus or my Green Pea Hummus.
Variations: Add some crumbled feta cheese on top. Add some chickpeas for additional protein. Use cooked white rice or couscous instead of brown rice. Serve hot or chilled.
Order some pretty porcelain serving bowls from Amazon.com:
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