This year most of my immediate family will be spending Christmas with us in sunny south Florida. It’s the first time in decades that we’re able to be together for the holidays, so it’s cause for celebration!
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| Easy Midia Dolma |
Our Christmas noon-time meal will be at a restaurant, but after
that, everyone will come to our home to relax and catch up. Instead of a
sit-down evening meal, we’ll serve a casual buffet with some of our favorite nibbles – easy midia dolma, mini cheese boregs and paklava bites, to name a few. I plan to add
a lamb meatball recipe to the mix as well. These are perfect as an appetizer, and
can be cooked a day in advance to save time. (Recipe follows.)
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| Mini Paklava |
We hope your Christmas will be
filled with joy and memories you will treasure!
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| Lamb Meatball Appetizer |
Lamb Meatballs with Currants and Pine Nuts –
and – Yogurt Sauce
(Best made one day in advance)
yogurt
fresh mint leaves
minced
juice
freshly ground pepper, to taste
mix the yogurt with the mint, garlic and lemon juice. Season the yogurt sauce
with salt and pepper; cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
dried currants
pine nuts, coarsely chopped
chopped flat-leaf parsley
fresh lemon juice
ground cumin
ground coriander
red pepper, or paprika
pepper to taste
lamb (ground beef or ground turkey may be substituted)
to rehydrate; drain and pat dry.
combine the currants, pine nuts, lemon juice, ground cumin,
ground coriander, Aleppo red pepper, and Kosher salt and pepper.
ingredients – except the meat – in a food processor to create more of a paste.)
mixing bowl, add the currant – seasoning mixture to the ground lamb. Using your
hands, gently mix until well-combined.
for each. Set the meatballs on a plate, cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate
until ready to cook. NOTE: Remove meatballs from refrigerator about 15
minutes before cooking.
non-stick skillet then warm it over medium-high heat. Add meatballs, without
crowding the pan, and cook on all sides until meatballs are thoroughly cooked. Drain
any excess fat from the skillet.
excess fat, then place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet in a warm
(200°F) oven. Continue until all meatballs are cooked. Keep meatballs warm
until ready to serve.
them in a covered container. Heat in a preheated 350° oven on a foil-lined baking pan for about 10 to 15
minutes or until warmed through; serve with mint-yogurt sauce.
