Pepper Monkey Lamb Meatballs

Ingredients for Pepper Monkey Lamb Meatballs

• 1 bunch fresh coriander

• 1/2 to 1 jalapeño, depending on how spicy you want your sauce

• 1 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves

• 3 cloves garlic

• 150g plain Greek yoghurt

• 2 tablespoons seasoned salt

• Juice of 1 lemon

• 1 teaspoon agave nectar

• 1 tablespoon cumin seeds (see Notes)

• 2 tablespoons coriander seeds

• Seeds from 4 cardamom pods

• Seeds from 2 star anise

• 1 tablespoon ground turmeric

• 3 tablespoons seasoned salt

• 1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon cayenne

• 4 to 2.3kg lamb mince (see Notes)

• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped

• 2 tablespoons peeled, finely chopped fresh ginger

• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

• 1/2 bunch fresh mint, chopped

• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

• 1 cup cooked spinach, chopped

How to make Pepper Monkey Lamb Meatballs

Make the Spicy Afghan Green Sauce: Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. This can be done 1 to 3 days in advance. It is best to make the sauce at least 1 day in advance to give the flavours time to blend.

Preheat a grill to about 191°C for direct cooking.

Make the meatballs: Place the cumin, coriander, cardamom seeds, and star anise in a small skillet over medium heat and toast until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Let cool, then grind in a spice or coffee grinder. Add the turmeric, seasoned salt, black pepper, cinnamon, and cayenne and mix well.

Place the lamb mince in a large bowl. Add the spices along with the onion, ginger, garlic, mint, feta, and spinach and mix well, but do not overmix as this will result in a tough texture. Form the mixture into meatballs 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

Place the meatballs on the grill grate and cook for about 14 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 71°C on a meat thermometer, rotating the meatballs frequently to ensure that they caramelize evenly.

Serve with the dipping sauce.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.