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Northern Indian Lamb Meatballs Photo: Antonis Achilleos

Northern Indian Lamb Meatballs

Subtle and Sophisticated: Simmered in a silky tomato-based sauce, these delicate lamb meatballs have sweet prune centers. Indian flatbread and pickled carrots are, respectively, mild and mouthpuckering foils for the curry.

Martha Stewart Living, January 2005 http://www.marthastewart.com/338268/northern-indian-lamb-meatballs
4.09091
Rated
81.8182100(11)11
  • Yield Serves 4

Ingredients

    • 2 small garlic cloves
    • 1 piece (1 inch) peeled fresh ginger, sliced
    • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 1 large onion, finely chopped
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
    • 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • 2 tablespoons plus 1 tablespoon ground coriander
    • 1 can (8 ounces) plain tomato sauce
    • 1 dried bay leaf
    • Coarse salt
    • 12 ounces ground lamb
    • 1 cup fine fresh breadcrumbs
    • 1/3 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
    • 1 large egg
    • 6 prunes, quartered
    • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
    • Pickled vegetables, for serving
    • Indian flatbread, for serving

Directions

  1. Process garlic, ginger, and 1 1/2 teaspoons water in a food processor until a chunky paste forms; set aside.
  2. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add onion; cook, stirring, until translucent, about 3 minutes. Set aside one quarter of onion in a large bowl.
  3. Add 1 tablespoon garlic paste, 1/2 cup water, the turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, and 2 tablespoons coriander to onion in skillet. Cook 3 minutes, stirring. Add tomato sauce, 1 1/2 cups water, and the bay leaf. Season with salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer.
  4. Mix reserved onion, lamb, breadcrumbs, cilantro, egg, 1 teaspoon each garlic paste and salt, and remaining teaspoon coriander and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne. Divide into 24 pieces; roll into balls. Stuff each meatball with a prune quarter; roll to enclose.
  5. Add meatballs to simmering sauce (add water if meatballs are not covered by sauce). Cook until sauce has thickened, about 40 minutes. Stir in garam masala.

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