Spelt and Lamb Meatballs Recipe (2024)

Ratings

4

out of 5

131

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

Lisa

Made this tonight with wheat berries, since I couldn't find spelt. Super delicious! I agree that these would be good with a yogurt dip. I made a double batch and froze half of them. I'll serve them in a pita sandwich next time, with cucumber and garlic yogurt with dill. The

Keiko

I drizzled the tahini pomegranate molasses sauce from Julia Moskin's (adapted from Tanoreen) Brussels sprouts recipe and it was a great match. It is interesting how much the flavor and texture evoke falafel.

Kurt

I have made this several times and used anywhere from 1/2 lb to 1 1/4 pound of lamb based on the package I buy. Every batch was delicious and you get different meatball from lighter dominated by spelt to really meaty with stronger lamb flavor.

James L.

Made this tonight and it was really, really good. It seems to be calling out to have some sort of dipping sauce with it...which I will do the next time. Perhaps something with yogurt. I wound up serving it with leftover pikliz from Ms. Clark's column last week and it made a nice accompaniment.

sarahpatto

These were a winner. Next time I'll make double and freeze them because meatballs are kind of time consuming. But they are very tasty and I'll make again.

myra

Delicious

Sarah

Made this exactly as written. Years ago I worked at a Lebanese bakery that served homemade kibbeh - this is the closest to that flavor profile and texture I've ever been able to get in my own kitchen. Just delicious. Next time I'll make the garlicky yogurt sauce that goes with Lidey Heuck's Moroccan-spiced meatballs recipe, but they are also incredibly good without. Only note: it's a 20-30 min recipe once the spelt is cooked, but the spelt took me close to 90 min to cook!

AdrieneW

I loved this recipe! I only had enough for a 1:1 lamb:wheat berry, so I cut the other ingredients to 1/3 of what the recipe calls for. Broiled them, ~10 min., and they formed a crispy outside with a slightly firm middle. Served them atop a sploot of plain yogurt with some dill, but I think they’d be excellent in a pita with yogurt sauce. The spices and lamb were a great accompaniment to a big, fat Zinfandel. 10/10 will make this again.Any recs on a veggie version? Beans? Firm tofu?

Sarah

An easy and light dish. Definitely a tapas style side dish. I broiled them for 10 minutes which came out well. I wasn’t hugely impressed with the flavor .. it could have been more complex and interesting.

Roslyn

I made these with farro. They are so moist, and have a lot more bright flavors than lots of other meatball recipes. Am glad that I tried this.

Allison

SO glad I found this recipe! Maybe not a classic, but my family has always traditionally served meatballs as a dish at Christmas dinner. This year, it was my turn, and these spelt and lamb meatballs perfectly combined our family staple with more traditional Christmas flavors like spelt and lamb.Every year, we play “Pass the Meatball,” starting with the oldest. They grab the first meatball and we pass it around, mouth to mouth. The first person whose jaw gets tired makes them the next year!

Harlan Edmonds

Would this work with another meat, e.g. beef, if you can't find ground lamb?

Steven Zupan

Very good. Made with wheat berries instead of spelt as that is what my local store had. A few of the meatballs crumbled as I was pan frying, maybe the spelt would have been different. I served with a basic Greek yogurt sauce. Will definitely make again.

Mike L.

A simple, very good recipe. I used wheat berries since that's what I had. The jalapeno added just the right zing. I made a simple yogurt-cucumber sauce to accompany them. I will make these again with whatever ground meat I have available.

Desert fox

I really liked the flavor profile the spices offered. Used half t. of red chile powder as no fresh chile on hand.

JeffT

I used farro instead of spelt to create the meatballs, served atop butter leaf lettuce, and accompanied by a Tzatziki sauce, based on the recipe offered by Martha Rose Schulman. It was wonderful, and all my diners finished everything, seeking leftovers. Mark Bittman's Greek-style watermelon salad, with slight modification, was the perfect accompaniment.

Kurt

I have made this several times and used anywhere from 1/2 lb to 1 1/4 pound of lamb based on the package I buy. Every batch was delicious and you get different meatball from lighter dominated by spelt to really meaty with stronger lamb flavor.

sarahpatto

These were a winner. Next time I'll make double and freeze them because meatballs are kind of time consuming. But they are very tasty and I'll make again.

Keiko

I drizzled the tahini pomegranate molasses sauce from Julia Moskin's (adapted from Tanoreen) Brussels sprouts recipe and it was a great match. It is interesting how much the flavor and texture evoke falafel.

Lisa

Made this tonight with wheat berries, since I couldn't find spelt. Super delicious! I agree that these would be good with a yogurt dip. I made a double batch and froze half of them. I'll serve them in a pita sandwich next time, with cucumber and garlic yogurt with dill. The

Private notes are only visible to you.

Spelt and Lamb Meatballs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is lamb meatballs made of? ›

Lamb meatballs are made with a few ingredients ground lamb, red onion, garlic, flat-leaf parsley, mint, egg, panko breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper.

What wine goes with lamb meatballs? ›

Whether they're made with lamb or beef, the robustly seasoned Middle Eastern-style meatballs are great with Grenache and Syrah blends, like those from the southern Rhône in France or Australia.

Should lamb meatballs be pink inside? ›

Shape lamb mixture into balls using a 60 milliliter scoop. Brush meatballs with olive oil then place on a greased baking sheet. Bake meatballs for 10-12 minutes (they should be browned on the outside and slightly pink inside).

What is the best meat for meatballs? ›

Most meatballs served in marinara sauce are made with a mixture of beef and another ground protein, like pork sausage or veal—or all three. Pork gives the meatballs extra flavor, and veal helps keep them moist and tender.

Why is Pinot Noir good with lamb? ›

Sabrina Schatz, sommelier at Bobby Flay Steak in Atlantic City, NJ points to lamb's distinct weight on the palate, noting that in pairings you need a “wine that lightens the dish. Pinot Noir is perfect because it has the fruit, the earthiness, and the acidity that you are looking for in a gamey dish like lamb.”

Why does red wine pair well with lamb? ›

A wine like this will take the meat to an extra dimension, and the bolder tannin levels in your glass should also make the lamb meat feel more tender. So-called 'second wines' from recent top vintages are also worth a look. Good Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends can be found across the globe, too, of course.

What color wine goes best with lamb? ›

White wines, like a fruity Sauvignon Blanc will go nicely with a rack of lamb served pink and seasoned with fresh herbs. Meanwhile, a more robust red wine like a Zinfandel or Bordeaux red wine will pair best with more intensely flavored slow-cooked lamb dishes.

What is lamb made out of? ›

The Oxford dictionary defines lamb as 'a young sheep', or 'meat from a young sheep', while mutton is defined as 'meat from a fully grown sheep'. Meat from a sheep between the ages of one month and one year is served as lamb, while sheep older that one year is served as mutton.

What is ground lamb made of? ›

Ground Lamb is made from meat and trimmings from virtually any part of the animal, including shoulder, leg, loin, rib, flank, neck, breast and shanks.

What makes lamb meat? ›

Lamb is meat from a young sheep, usually under a year to eighteen months old, while mutton comes from an older sheep, often three years old or more.

Is lamb a healthy meat to eat? ›

Not only is it a rich source of high-quality protein, but it is also an outstanding source of many vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. Because of this, regular consumption of lamb may promote muscle growth, maintenance, and performance. In addition, it helps prevent anemia.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jamar Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 6357

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (75 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jamar Nader

Birthday: 1995-02-28

Address: Apt. 536 6162 Reichel Greens, Port Zackaryside, CT 22682-9804

Phone: +9958384818317

Job: IT Representative

Hobby: Scrapbooking, Hiking, Hunting, Kite flying, Blacksmithing, Video gaming, Foraging

Introduction: My name is Jamar Nader, I am a fine, shiny, colorful, bright, nice, perfect, curious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.