Greek Lamb Meatballs with Couscous

Serves: 6 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 30-40 minutes

For the Meatballs:

• 1kg ground lamb

• ½ red onion, chopped finely

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• ½ tsp cumin

• ½ tsp coriander

• ½ cup breadcrumbs (GF if applicable)

• 1 egg

• 2 tsp sea salt

• 1 tsp fresh ground pepper

• Cooking oil 

For the Toppings:

• 1 large yam, cubed

• ½ cup red onion, chopped finely

• 1 long english cucumber, cubed

• 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved

• 2 bell peppers, cut into chunks

• 6 handfuls spinach 

• ¾ cup feta, crumbled (optional)

• Toptionals: fresh mint, pita, parsley, avocado, lemon, hummus, tzatziki, babaganoush

Lemon-Tahini Dressing Ingredients:

• 3 cloves garlic

• ⅓ cup tahini

• 1 lemon juiced

• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

• 1-2 Tbsp maple syrup (optional)

• ¼ cup water

• ¼ cup olive oil

For the Couscous:

• 2 ½ cups water

• ½ tsp sea salt

• 2 Tbsp olive oil

• 2 cups couscous

• 2 Tsp herbs de Provence

• 1 tsp mint, fresh or dried

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400℉.

2. For the Meatballs: Combine all the meatball ingredients except the oil in a large bowl. Mash together with your hands. Let rest for 10 minutes. While they are resting, start on the yams.

3. For the Yams: Put the yams on a baking sheet, use parchment paper for easy clean up. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put in the oven for 15-25 minutes or until tender and browning.

4. Finishing the Meatballs: Heat a large pan on medium heat. Then shape them into golf ball sized balls. Add a splash of oil to the pan and coat it. Space the meatballs evenly in the pan.

5. For the Toppings & Dressing: Prep the rest of the toppings. Add all the dressing ingredients into a blender and blend.

6. For the Couscous: Bring water, oil, and salt to a boil. Add the rest of the couscous ingredients, stir, and cover for 5 minutes, taking it off the heat. The couscous should be fluffy. If it’s still a bit chewy add a splash more boiling water and cover for another 5 minutes.

7. For the Serving: Scoop some couscous onto a plate and add your desired toppings. Top with a couple meatballs and your garnishes and drizzle the lemon tahini dressing over everything. 

8. For the Enjoying: Enjoy loudly with something refreshing and without a filter.