Apricot Lamb Meatballs

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I adore lamb but don't buy it very often because it can be expensive.  When I saw it for $3.98/lb. at our local grocery store on Saturday, I jumped at the chance to make one of Man Friend's and my favorite dishes -apricot lamb meatballs with couscous and tomato and cucumber salad.

I always start out by assembling the meatballs and couscous per the recipe below.

Apricot Lamb Meatballs

yields 12-14 2 inch meatballs

• 1 lb. ground lamb
• 1/2 t. cinnamon
• 2 t. cumin
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta
• 1/3 cup bread crumbs
• 3/4 small onion, finely minced
• 6 dried apricots, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 T. chopped mint
• 2 cups couscous

meatball ingredients

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Add all ingredients except the mint and couscous  into a mixing bowl and mash together.

meatball ingredients in bowl

Add the mint and gently mash it into the lamb mixture.

meatball ingredients in bowl with mint

Form the lamb mixture into two inch wide meatballs and place them in a baking dish.

meatballs ready for oven

Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking time.  The meatballs should be browned evenly when finished cooking.  If you're not sure that they're cooked, you can always slice into one to see if there is any pinkness in the middle.

cooked meatballs

While the meatballs cook, you can get started on the couscous.  Cook 2 cups dry couscous per the instructions on the package.  When you remove the couscous from heat, drizzle 1 T. olive oil into the water and couscous so it is absorbed as the couscous cooks.  When the couscous has absorbed all of the water and oil, fluff it lightly with a fork.

couscous

Along with couscous, my favorite thing to serve with the meatballs is a simple tomato, cucumber, and feta salad.  It adds a ton of color and freshness to the plate and really completes the meal.  See recipe below.

Tomato, Cucumber, and Feta Salad

• 5 medium size tomatoes, diced
• 1 whole English cucumber, chopped
• Juice of 2 lemons
• 3 T. olive oil
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 2 T. chopped mint

salad ingredients

Mix cucumbers, tomatoes, feta, and mint together in a bowl.  Toss with olive oil and lemon juice just before serving.

prepared salad

When everything is ready, pile your plate high!

assembled plate

This dish is such a special treat, and yet it is really quite simple to make.  I love how the sweetness from the apricots is nicely complimented by the cinnamon and the warm smokey flavor of the cumin in the meatballs.  I always mix everything together when I eat so that the couscous is infused with the citrus dressing from the salad.  It gives so much freshness and fragrance to the meal.  Plus, the mint and feta in both the salad and the meatballs nicely ties the two components together.  Enjoy!

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