Take your mealtime to the Mediterranean with these succulent Lamb Meatballs.
In the USA, beef is the only red meat. Okay, I know there are more meat options in the grocery store, but Americans still eat way more beef than the global average. On the flip side, as more people learn about the potential health and environmental impacts of all those steaks and burgers, there’s a growing trend toward cutting back on beef.
If you want to curtail your cattle consumption, you may be searching for alternative proteins that satisfy a similar craving. No, I’m not just talking about all those trendy veggie-friendly “meat” blends in the supermarket. For instance, have you ever considered using lamb as a replacement for beef? While it’s not super popular in North America, lamb has a long reputation in many cuisines, so there are countless delicious recipes to try.
If you’re new to lamb, try easing into the flavor by mixing it with a familiar recipe like meatballs. While the taste won’t be the same, the similar texture helps make the transition easier (especially if you’re apprehensive about eating lamb).
So, if you’re ready to take your tastebuds on a journey, consider trying these minty lamb meatballs. Once you try lamb, you’ll open up a whole new world of dinner possibilities.
Are Lamb Meatballs Healthy?
Like beef, lamb is red meat, which means it’s a good source of protein and has a fair amount of vitamins and minerals. The herbs and spices in these meatballs add plenty of flavor and a good dose of antioxidants.
Although these lamb meatballs are generally healthy, there are ways you could enhance their health score even more. For instance, add some veggies like zucchini or carrots to your lamb mix to sneak in extra nutrients. You could also use less oil with a non-stick pan to reduce fat content. If fat is still a concern, search for leaner ground lamb mixes like 90/10 when shopping at the supermarket.
Is a lamb meatball healthier than a beef meatball?
While lamb adds variety to your recipe routine, it’s not necessarily a “healthier” alternative to beef. If you get ground lamb and beef with the same quality standards, they most likely have similar pros and cons. On the plus side, both meats contain a lot of protein and minerals like iron and zinc. However, different cuts of these meats could have higher traces of cholesterol and calories, depending on the type of meat, the total fat content, and the quality of your product.
Don’t think that you’re necessarily getting a “leaner” type of red meat by eating lamb. Nutritionally, it’s best to treat lamb like beef when deciding how often to put it in your recipe rotation.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 pound ground lamb
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil for cooking
INSTRUCTIONS
Mix
Combine ingredients and form meatballs.
Bake
Cook meatballs in the oven until done.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
One convenient feature of meatball recipes is you prep them whenever you have free time and can either refrigerate or freeze them. Uncooked meatballs last a few days in the fridge in an airtight container or a few months in a freezer-safe bag. Just place your uncooked meatballs on a baking sheet with parchment paper and pop them in the freezer for a few hours to get them solid. This extra step before putting them in the freezer bag helps your lamb meatballs keep their shape.
After you’ve cooked the meatballs, leftovers store well in the fridge or freezer. You could put cool lamb meatballs in the fridge in an airtight container for a few days or freeze them in airtight, freezer-safe bags for months.
The only way to verify your lamb meatballs are ready for devouring is to use a handy meat thermometer. The safe internal temp for lamb meatballs is 145° F, so wait till they hit this temperature before dining.
Although the point of this recipe is to add some variety to your meals with lamb’s unique flavor, it’s OK to use other meats with this blend of herbs and spices. For instance, if you’re looking for leaner meat options, try this recipe using ground chicken, turkey, or pork.
Serving Suggestions
Just like beef meatballs, you could serve your lamb meatballs on top of whole-wheat pasta, spaghetti, or noodles, but it’s also great with grains like couscous, quinoa, or rice. For low-carb dieters, you could serve lamb meatballs with zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice for a keto-approved pairing.
It’s also traditional to dip these lamb meatballs in a creamy, tangy sauce like tahini yogurt or tzatziki. Or, since these lamb meatballs have mint in them, you could serve mint jelly on the side for a sweet and refreshing addition. Building on the mint theme, why not make a pitcher of this “cucumber mint water” to evoke all those cooling flavors while enjoying your dinner.
Lamb Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground lamb
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- 2 tablespoons olive oil for cooking
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a large bowl, combine ground lamb, red onion, garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, parsley, mint, salt, black pepper, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Mix until just combined.
-
Form the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
-
Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until the meatballs are browned and cooked through.
Nutrition
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