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Mediterranean Beef & Lamb Meatballs with Lemon

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Juicy meatballs crafted from a blend of beef and lamb, seasoned with herbs, garlic, and lemon, then baked or pan-fried to golden perfection. Serve with a bright lemony yogurt sauce for an authentically Mediterranean touch.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1/2 lb ground beef (80/20)
  • 1/2 lb ground lamb
  • 1/3 cup breadcrumbs or soaked pita, finely crumbled
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • Salt, to taste
  • Ground black pepper, to taste
  • Olive oil, for cooking
  • Optional: 1/4 cup onion, finely grated
  • For Lemon Yogurt Sauce: 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 clove garlic (minced), 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt to taste

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, mix ground beef and lamb with breadcrumbs (or soaked pita), egg, garlic, parsley, mint (if using), lemon zest, cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, and grated onion (if using). Mix until just combined.
  2. Roll into 1- to 1¼-inch balls and place on a tray.
  3. To pan-fry: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Brown meatballs on all sides for 2–3 minutes each, cover, and cook 6–8 minutes more until cooked through.
  4. To bake: Preheat oven to 400 °F (200 °C). Bake on a lined baking sheet for 15–18 minutes until golden and cooked through.
  5. Make yogurt sauce: Mix Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and salt in a small bowl until smooth.
  6. Serve meatballs with lemon yogurt sauce drizzled over or on the side. Garnish with extra lemon zest and herbs if desired.

Notes

  • Use a meat thermometer to ensure internal temperature reaches 160 °F.
  • For extra moisture, add grated onion to the mix.
  • Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes before shaping to help bind.
  • Freeze cooked or uncooked meatballs for easy meal prep.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastyera.com/mediterranean-beef-lamb-meatballs-with-lemon/