Meatballs are little globes of deliciousness that can be used in all sorts of dishes. Whether you like them fried, baked, glazed, or simmered in sauce, they are super versatile and inexpensive. It’s just a matter of taking some ground meat, add some seasoning and herbs, form it into little balls, and cook! This lamb meatball recipe with feta, lemon and mint is fabulous, but you can always substitute the lamb for another kind of meat if you don’t like lamb. If I had to name one recipe that is ideal for slipping into a food coma, it would be this one.
If done right the meatballs are juicy and soft. To achieve this juiciness and softness it’s very important not to overwork the meat mixture, and make sure to simmer them gently. I use the lowest setting on the stove.
First time I saw the intriguing mix of ingredients in this recipe, I immediately wanted to try it. After tasting it I can now tell you that there’s a mouthful of incredible flavour in every bite you take of this dish! I can honestly say that I have never eaten meatballs in tomato sauce as good as these and I would love to be proven wrong. If you have a better recipe, please let me know…….
The meatballs are quick and easy to make, you just mix all the ingredients together and roll them into golf size balls. I don’t know about you, but I think there is something extremely relaxing about rolling the meat into little balls and browning them into perfection before you drop them into the delicious, rich tomato sauce. I told the kids they could choose what to serve them with and they chose a cucumber and strawberry salad and some crusty bread.
It is worth doubling up the quantities of the tomato sauce if you want to serve them with a pasta like spaghetti. You know what………….…..just thought of this, but you could also use this extra sauce to make a delicious lunch the next day. Simply heat up the sauce and then drop a few eggs in the mixture and poach them to perfection. Add a nice crusty baguette and you’re sorted. I will definitely do that next time I make them.
Once we were having meatballs for diner and my son asks me: mum, how much of this meatball is meat? So I tell him that about 90% of the meatballs is meat. Then he replied: So the other 10% is made of balls? Euhhhhh……..…….never thought of it like that. Luckily it did not change my way of looking at meatballs.
I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. If you try it, please let me know! Leave a comment, telling me what you think of it. You can also tag your photo on Instagram with @culyzaar or post it on my Facebook page so I can see it. I love seeing your takes on the recipes on my blog!
Source: Adapted from ‘Smitten Kitchen’
- 750 grams ground lamb
- 1 large egg
- 60 grams panko breadcrumbs
- 60 grams crumbled feta cheese
- 3/4 teaspoon table salt
- a Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 2 small garlic cloves, minced
- 10 grams chopped parsley
- 35 grams tomato paste
- Zest of one lemon
- 5 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for browning)
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic clove, minced
- 35 grams tomato paste
- 800 grams (2 cans) of crushed or pureed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Zest of half a lemon
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- Pinches of red pepper flakes (to taste)
- 75 grams pitted, chopped kalamata olives, plus more for garnish
- 5 grams thinly sliced mint leaves, plus more for garnish
- 5 grams chopped parsley, plus more for garnish
- Juice of half a lemon
- 30 grams crumbled feta, for garnish
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In a large bowl, combine all meatball ingredients except the oil. I like to do this with a fork. Form the mixture into golf ball sized meatballs. Oil your hands so the meat doesn’t stick to your fingers. Always roll them lightly so they just hold together but they aren’t compressed to much. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes to set.
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While the meatballs set in the fridge, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet and put it on medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and let it "brown" in the pan. By doing this and sauteing it with the onions, you can boost the flavour of this dish in a big way. This method caramelizes the natural sugars in the tomato paste, making the sauce sweet and delicious. Then you add a little water to the pan and scrape up any bits stuck to the pan. Add the tomatoes and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cover with a lid and cook at the lowest setting for 30 minutes.
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While the sauce is cooking you heat a little oil over a medium-high heat in a large frying pan and brown the meatballs. Don’t overcrowd the pan. Leave space so you can gently turn the meatballs around so they brown on all sides. You can fry the meatballs until cooked through but I prefer to finish them in the sauce. Once they are all browned, remove carefully with tongs and set aside on a plate. Repeat with the rest of the meatballs.
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Add the oregano, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper flakes, olives, mint and parsley to the tomato sauce. Then add the browned meatballs, cover the pan and cook again at the lowest simmer for another 30 minutes. By then the meatballs should be cooked through.
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Before serving you sprinkle the meatballs with feta, parsley, olives and mint and serve immediately. We served this with a cucumber and strawberry salad and some crusty baguette to mop up all the delicious tomato sauce.
Saw a commenter do this recipe on Facebook. Going to grind my own lamb of leg steak and add some pork meat to it so it’s fatty enough to this recipe tonight. It sounds just great on top of some noodles!
Richard
Sorry Richard,
Only just saw your comment. I really need to look more often on my blog. Did you end up making the recipe?
Superb recipe, tried this 2 weeks ago and made it again today. Absolutely tasty meatballs unlike anything you would get from a supermarket, and the sauce is out-of-this-world! This recipe is one that you will make many times without tiring. A keeper!
Hi Grace, so happy you liked them. Thank you for letting me know.
Could you fry the meatballs in the same pan you make the sauce in first? Then all the lovely stuff leftover in the pan would add to the sauce?
Hi Peter, Of course you can do that. Start with browning the meatballs, then take them out and make the sauce in the same pan and return the meatballs to the pan when your sauce simmered for the first 30 minutes.
Wow! This sounds awesome! I am looking forward to buying the ingredients tomorrow and making it. Glad I found this site!
Hi Jayne, Thank you so much. I hope you like it as much as we did. Please let me know if you liked it.