Certain meats are associated with major holidays.
Do we do this with veggies? Other than pumpkin at Halloween?
Thanksgiving is turkey, Christmas is often ham, the 4th of July is for burgers… and Easter is all about the lamb.
I really, really love lamb. It’s probably my favorite meat. Rich without being too fatty, it’s more decadent than a steak to me. It’s especially delicious with paired with my favorite herb – rosemary.
This year I decided to get with the theme and create a meatball with this Easter meat. I used a blend of ground lamb and pork. While I love lamb, it can be heavy. Pork is often used in beef-based meatballs. When I saw Gabby make her lamb balls, I couldn’t believe I did think of it first! (Thank you, Gabby!) The addition of a little pork gave the flavor of the meatballs more dimension.
Another fun ingredient was ricotta cheese. With this addition, it is almost impossible to dry the meatballs out during baking. The ricotta gave the meatballs a perfectly tender, almost silky quality!
One other note: when you make these, be sure to mince/finely chop rosemary, onion, and garlic. This way their flavor distributes evenly throughout.
Finally, I needed a sauce! Lamb always make me think Greek food, so I thought a Greek yogurt-based concoction was in order. Fresh cilantro pairs with the classic Mediterranean flavors of lemon, garlic, and coriander to liven up the heavier lamb, and compliment the cumin and cinnamon used in the meatballs.
The dip can be made a day in advance and stored in the fridge. It’s also delicious as a veggie dip, or used in place of mayo in chicken or salmon salad.
In conclusion, you should try my tasty (lamb) balls.
Did you really think I could get through a whole post without a ball joke?! Puh-lease.
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Baked Lamb Meatballs with Cucumber Raita
For the Balls:
- 3/4 lb ground lamb
- 1/4 lb ground pork
- 1 egg white
- 1/4 C fat-free ricotta
- 1/4 C red onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 T fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
For the Cucumber Raita:
- 1/2 small cucumber, finely chopped or grated
- 1/2 C Greek yogurt
- 1/4 C fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 T fresh lemon juice
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
For the Balls:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with non-stick foil or parchment.
In a mixing bowl, combine the ground lamb, pork, egg, ricotta, onion, garlic, lemon, rosemary, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, and black pepper until the spices are all well incorporated into the meat.
Form the meat into balls (1 heaping tablespoon each), taking care not to pack too tightly. Arrange on lined pan.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are just slightly pink in the center (150 degrees).
Makes 22 meatballs.
For the Cucumber Raita:
Grate cucumber with the skin on.
Squeeze out excess water from grated cucumber and place in a medium bowl.
Add remaining the ingredients and mix well.
Makes ~1 cup.
***
Unrelated, but have you guys seen this video of what 2000 calories looks like? 50 slices of bacon. Or 18.2 beers. Or 60 carrots.
For those of you who sacrificed something for Lent, what are you most looking forward to being reunited with?
Do you have lamb on Easter? Or do you associate with another meat or vegetable?
Haha, so true… I grew up with ham on Easter, but don’t think I’ve ever made it for us. This looks fantastic- and I have been obsessed with Greek yogurt sauces lately. I made Lindsay’s black bean meatballs the other week and used a similar sauce. Pinning yours.
Thanks Laura! I love bean meatballs too… need to add it to the ever-growing list. 🙂
Okay now I am on the lookout for ground lamb. This looks goooood.
That is true, isn’t it? We associate certain meat with holiday meals. I have to admit, I’ve never had lamb! Maybe it’s time to try it?
Yes, you do! Then let me know how you like it. 🙂
I don’t know what we’ll have for Easter, but it surely won’t be lamb. I’ll probably make a carrot cake.
That cucumber raita sounds delicious! I guess it goes well with falafels, too.
LOL! Yes,the sauce would go with other things quite well. I did a lentil-tofu meatball that would be good too, now that I think of it…
Love the addition of the raita with the meatballs. I just tend to add them to a tomato sauce. Looks lovely!
Thanks! Tomato sauce is always a good choice too.
For my family, Easter is usually turkey and ham…so it’s pretty close to Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I love lamb but I’ve never worked with it ground…definitely going to remember these meatballs!
That does sound like Thanksgiving! Let me know if you try the lamb – it makes a good burger too.
Yum! No Easter traditions here … That are healthy lol
Haha – sounds like a typical holiday. 😉
Mmmm I LOVE raita! And I’ve only ever had lamb once, it was on a cruise, but boy oh boy was it good! I will definitely have to find myself some lamb and try these, that look fantastic!
Let me know if you do!! It’s really easy to work with.
Typically, we have ham BUT because I’m pre-comp my Dad be making me Salmon and my mom Turkey 🙂
I love my family!
Great recipe. Looks amazing!
That’s so sweet of them! Family and friend support is the best.
Even back when I used to eat meat, I don’t think I’ve really ever had lamb. Is that weird? I might try these with some veggie meat balls. The raita looks really good.
It would be great with veggie meatballs! Or just as a sauce for a veggie burger.
Heck yes for LAMB! My family is Greek so we make it for more than just Easter. Basically, we make it whenever we can find an excuse to. 🙂 I usually roast the whole leg with oregano, TONS of garlic shoved down into the meat, olive oli, salt, and pepper. Even with the whole leg, if you cook it medium, it is deliciously tender and wonderful. When I was in Greece for Easter, their tradition is to start roasting a whole lamb on a spit outside over a fire on Easter morning. The family we were staying with upheld that tradition and offered everyone Heineken for good measure. I felt like a bad person, but a good Greek for drinking on Easter morning.
Tangent-Greek Easter this year is on Cinco de Mayo-way later than usual (it’s based on the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian one). My husband and I are having a Cinco de Pascha party (Pascha’s the Greek word for Easter) to celebrate both at the same time. Margaritas and grilled lamb-yes please!!
Also-awesome recipe!! 🙂
I’m so jealous you have a Greek family! I love, love Greek food and celebrations. I want to go to your Cinco de Pascha party!
uhhh well i’m jewish so i don’t do anything with easter 🙂 🙂 but i still eat lamb and this recipe looks mighty tasty!!
Matzo-lamb ball soup?! 😉
Mmmm, I’m a lamb fan, and these sound fantastic! The only foods my family really got into for Easter were eggs and chocolate, though not together… ewwwww.
Chocolate eggs aren’t as bad as they sound… #strangebutgood. 😉
I guess I always thought of ham for Easter too. Not that I eat it. Though, we don’t ever do anything traditional in my family, or traditional in most people’s eyes. Thanksgiving is manicotti, Christmas is spaghetti & meatballs (well not for me anymore). Sunday we’re doing a taco bar LOL
Taco bar?! I’m coming over!
Mmmmm…lamb. I love it but I almost never buy it. Jeff hates Mediterranean food so I never know how to prepare it with different flavors. Lamb and rosemary are soooo good together though.
How can you hate Mediterranean??? Wellll… I’m sure you could rock a Japanese version. 🙂
I don’t celebrate Easter but my hubby always had ham…. Passover here as a kid. As an adult I do what I want to. 🙂
Not a lamb person but I am sure anything you make is great!!! 🙂
Mmmmmm I would looooove these, twin! I love lamb, too, but once I got turned off of it because I had it and it was kiiiiind of under cooked. BLAH. I would love to give these meatballs a try, though! I’m loving a variety of meats these days!
xoxo
It’s really good on the rare side, but you have to be expecting it for sure. Lamb actually makes a great tartar!
Omg, I LOVE lamb as well- problem is, i can never find it. I don’t understand. Walmart and Publix need to step their game up.
I got mine at the farmer’s market… I know Whole Foods carris it too though!
I used to love having lamb at Easter…but really, just because that meant we also got to have mint jelly. 🙂 If I were going to be consuming lamb this weekend, I’d make the raita–super creative idea by the way–but I’d definitely make it a MINT version. 🙂
Also, be jealous that Gabby and I live in close enough proximity to hang out some times. She is awesome. [And not just because she and her husband come up with crazy delicious looking meals.]
That’s RIGHT! I am jealous. You guys need to move down South!
These look delicious & would also work with my recipe for tomorrow 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Ohhhh… the raita WOULD be good with your chicken!
YES I want to try your tasty balls!!!
I grew up eating a lot of lamb, before it got hella expensive, but I always associate it with mint. Lamb chops and mint jelly, heck yeah!
I have to confess… I don’t like mint. It feels right confessing this to you, especially. 😉
Saving and emailing to myself right now… looks yummy.
Thanks! Are you on Pinterest?
Lamb is my favorite meat too! I love the idea of lamb meatballs.
I love lamb(p)! But I’ve never cooked it myself.
Really 50 slices of bacon or 60 carrots? I’ll take the bacon, please.
It’s not one I do often, but it’s really easy!
How about bacon wrapped carrots? That might be good on the grill, actually…
Quite frankly, I’m surprised you made it that far along without a ball joke. 😉
Bwhahaha! Thanks for noticing. 🙂
Mmmm raita is my favourite my friend and with veggie subbed ‘meat’balls, total yes 😀
Love your wonderful post today!
Happy Easter
Choc Chip Uru
It would totally be good with veggie balls!
Did you ever see my balls?? http://sports-glutton.com/2013/01/23/fincas-lamb-meatballs/
LMAO! I’m chacking out your balls right now.
I think you should marry Greg, because once again, I showed him this recipe and it made him drool (or moan, one of the two).
I never, EVER buy lamb. Maybe because it’s usually so pricey? Also, I’m just not familiar with it- but I do love the taste! Being unfamiliar hasn’t kept me from buying ostrich though, which is also tasty. 🙂
LOL! I’m telling you, we should all move to Utah… 😉
lamb meatballs look great!!! we need to make those, we have made a lamb meatloaf before and really liked it. so lamb meatballs sound perfect
Lamb meatloaf sounds SO good! I need to do that next time.
Oops! I shared this post this morning, or thought I did, and just realized it was linked to the wrong blog… 🙁 I fixed it now, but sorry about that! Maybe I’ll have to share it again with my menu plan for those who wanted to find you today and couldn’t!
Oh! I’m behind on my reading and didn’t even see it. Thank you so much for updating the link and sharing these!
Love love LOVE this!! I’ve never made meatballs before because I’ve always been too afraid that they would end up dry and crumbly…good thinking with the ricotta! And the cucumber sauce is PERFECT! Lamb always makes me think of Greek flavors too! LOVE lamb! Ohh, except when I ordered the lamb medallions at the irish Pub I went to for my birthday last year…they were so greasy…I just couldn’t get past it to actually enjoy them! But I did get my fill of Scotch eggs and homestyle kettlechips with dip…which I RAVED about for WEEKS! And omg, guess what! The man-friend and I are meeting some friends there this Friday!! Ahhhh, I’m so excited!! Woo hoo! Yippee! Dear God, pray for me that I don’t eat so much I wanna hurl like I did last time… you only THINK I’m kidding!
Thanks, friend!!! I love scotch eggs… can those be made healthy???
Good luck! Drink a TON of water so you’re more full on that.
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