Persian Pomegranate and Pistachio Meatball
photo by Swirling F.
- Ready In:
- 27mins
- Ingredients:
- 24
- Yields:
-
24 meatballs
ingredients
-
For the Meatballs
- 1 small onion, completely chopped
- 1 1⁄2 cups raw pistachios
- 1⁄4 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 cups fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 cup fresh tarragon, chopped
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 lbs ground lamb
- 1 egg
- 1⁄2 cup canola oil or 1/2 cup olive oil
-
For the Glaze
- 3⁄4 cup pomegranate molasses
- 1⁄4 cup honey or 1/4 cup grape molasses
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1⁄2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
-
For the Garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios
- 1 sprig basil
- mixed sprouts
- mint
- 1 cup fresh pomegranate
directions
- To make the meatballs: Pulse all the ingredients, except the meat and egg, in a food processor until you have a grainy paste.
- Transfer to a large mixing bowl and add the meat and egg. Lightly knead with your hands for a few minutes (do not over mix).
- Cover and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 500?F. Generously oil a wide, nonreactive baking dish (wide enough to fit 24 meatballs, about 12x14 inches) and set aside.
- Remove the paste from the refrigerator and shape into bite-sized balls (about 1 1/2 tablespoons each, you can use an ice cream scoop) and place the meatballs in the baking dish and brush well with oil. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl combine all the ingredients for the glaze. It is important that you taste the glaze and be sure that it has a good balance between sweet and sour—add more honey if the pomegranate molasses you have used is too sour.
- Reduce the oven to 400?F. Glaze the meatballs and bake for another 5 minutes to infuse them with the flavor of the pomegranate. Adjust seasoning to taste. If too sour add more honey; if too sweet add more pomegranate molasses. Keep warm in the oven until ready to serve.
- Place the meatballs with its sauce in deep serving dish and garnish.
Reviews
-
Fascinating, unique recipe! We loved these flavorsome lamb meatballs as part of meze. This made 48 X 1" meatballs. I did increase salt to 1 tbs and that was about right for the 2 lb of meat and all the rest of it, for us. So delicious and easy to make. Bit crumbly when eating, so might try using 2 eggs next time.