This is a new spin on a old classic, lamb and mint. It is said that this combination came about back in the day when lamb was considered a game meat, and had an off-putting flavor and smell to some people. The addition of mint, usually in the form of jelly, overpowered this “gamey” taste and allowed more people to enjoy the meat.
Here, the mint jelly has been replaced by a mint chimichurri, an Argentinian condiment usually made with parsley. Chimichurri is a rustic sauce that is best mixed with a fork.
A great side dish for these meatballs would be a sweet potato/parsnip puree or a simple cauliflower rice.
Notes: During the development of this recipe, we discovered that the bake time varied pretty significantly based on altitude. One of us lives 100 feet above sea level, the other above 7,000 feet. Although oven temperatures are constant, because of the air pressure, meat and other items can take longer to cook at higher elevation. We recommend that you test the doneness with a meat thermometer in order to ensure all meats are cooked to your liking.
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Lamb Meatballs with Mint Chimichurri
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4-5 1x
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Pin RecipeIngredients
- For the Lamb meatballs:
- 2 lbs ground Lamb
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/3 cup Almond meal
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- For Mint Chimichurri:
- 1 cup loosely packed Parsley, chopped
- 1 cup loosely packed Mint, chopped
- 2 Tbls minced shallot
- 2 Tbls Red wine vinegar
- 2 Tbls Lemon juice
- 1/2 cup Olive oil
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (or to taste)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place a cooling rack over a lined baking sheet. If you don’t have a cooling rack, place meatballs directly on lined sheet.
- In a large bowl combine all the meatball ingredients, mix gently.
- Divide meat into 3 oz portions, and roll into balls. I used an ice cream scoop and was able to get exactly 12 meatballs.
- Place meatballs on prepared sheet and bake for 18-30 minutes, depending on desired doneness.
- While meatballs are baking, making chimichurri by combining all ingredients in a bowl.
- Allow meatballs to rest for 5-10 minutes, top with chimichurri and serve!
- Category: Main
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