Smoked Lamb Meatballs
Smoked Lamb Meatballs, made with ground lamb shoulder, are jam-packed with flavor and a offer an awesome way to jazz up any pita sandwich or pasta dish.
Servings: 20 meatballs
Cost: $15
Equipment
- Scoop for making the meatballs.
Ingredients
Smoked Lamb Meatballs:
- 1 lb. ground lamb shoulder
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons diced shallot, or onion
- 3 whole garlic cloves, finely diced
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pita Sandwich
- 4 whole pitas
- 1/4 cup smoked pickled onions Raw red onions work well too
- 1/2 cup Your favorite Tzatziki sauce
- 3/4 cup fresh greens Enough for two leaves per half
Instructions
Smoked Lamb Meatballs
- Set smoker to 250 degrees using fruit wood (we used cherry).
- In a large bowl, combine all meatball ingredients together and mix thoroughly with your hands to prevent over mixing.
- Form into small golf ball sized meatballs and place on a baking sheet (should yield around 20 meatballs).
- Place the baking sheet with the meatballs on the smoker and cook until the internal temperature of the meatballs reach 160 degrees (approximately 1 hour).
- Remove and serve with the pita sandwich.
For the Sandwich
- Warm the pita briefly in the oven at 225 degrees Fahrenheit, or in the microwave. Cut the whole pita in half. Alternatively warm them up in the smoker as the meatballs are almost done. Be sure when warming them they are wrapped in foil so they don't get crispy or dry.
- Into each pita half, add 1 tablespoon Tzatziki, 2 leaves lettuce and a few pieces of onion.
- Add 3 meatballs per pita. The pita may only fit 2 1/2 meatballs if your yield was 20 meatballs.
- Enjoy with your favorite beverage.
Notes
When Making Meatballs: Use a scoop. They make various sizes from one teaspoon to larger. We love the 1 tablespoon versions for any meatball recipe. They are great for ice cream and cookies as well.
For Pita Sandwiches: serve with pita bread, and stuff with some fresh crispy greens, tzatziki sauce, and smoked pickled onions. Other topping ideas include fresh dill or diced English cucumber.
Nutrition
Calories: 73kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 140mg | Potassium: 64mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
