Lamb meatballs with jewelled rice and cumin yoghurt

5.00

This lamb meatball recipe takes inspiration from the warming, aromatic flavours of North African cuisine, with cumin, coriander, mint and ginger all permeating the lamb and rice. Marcus Wareing's colourful dish is finished with bursts of refreshing pomegranate and a cooling cumin yoghurt.

First published in 2015

Ingredients

Metric

Imperial

Spicy lamb balls

Jewelled rice

Cumin yoghurt

Method

1
For the cumin yoghurt, lightly toast the cumin seeds in a hot, dry pan until they release a strong aroma
2
Bruise the seeds using a pestle and mortar, add to a bowl with the yoghurt and cucumber, mix well. Season to taste and store in the fridge until required
3
To make the rice, bring the stock to a boil and then remove from the heat
  • 1000ml of vegetable stock
4
Place a large saucepan over a medium heat and add the butter. Once the butter is foaming, add the onion and sweat until soft but not coloured
5
Add the garlic and spices and cook for a further 1—2 minutes to release the flavours and cook the garlic
6
Add the rice along with a pinch of salt, stir through and toast until lightly golden in colour. Add the hot stock and stir lightly. Bring the stock to a simmer and add more salt if required
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 420g of long grain rice
7
Place the lid on the saucepan and reduce the heat to low, cook for 12 minutes. Then, remove from the heat, keeping the lid on, and leave the pan to stand for an additional 5 minutes
8
For the meatballs, toast the ground coriander and cumin in a dry frying pan then add to a large bowl
9
Add the rest of the meatball ingredients to the bowl and mix well
10
Shape the mix into golf ball-sized meatballs and set aside on a tray
11
Place a frying pan over a medium heat and add oil. Once the oil is hot, fry the meatballs until golden brown all over
  • 2 tbsp of vegetable oil, for frying
12
Transfer to a baking tray and cook through in an oven set to 180°C/gas mark 4 for 10—15 minutes
13
Remove the lid from the rice and using a fork or spatula, gently fluff the rice and fold through the carrot, pepper, coriander and pomegranate
14
Remove the meatballs from the oven and serve on a bed of the jewelled rice with a dollop of cumin yoghurt
First published in 2015

Marcus Wareing defines his inimitable cooking style as 'not British cuisine, not French cuisine – it’s Marcus cuisine.'

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