Laras Yogurt Balls Food

SPICED LAMB MEATBALLS WITH YOGURT AND HERBS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, use your hands to combine lamb, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, onion, cumin, coriander, cinnamon and cayenne. Beat 2 of the eggs and add to meat, mixing until incorporated. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 24 hours to allow the seasonings to permeate the meat.
• Using wet hands, break off walnut-sized pieces of lamb mixture, roll into spheres and set aside on a baking sheet. You should have about 30 1-ounce meatballs.
• Heat oven to 225 degrees. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. When shimmering, add meatballs in one layer and brown for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn and cook for 4 to 5 minutes more. (Work in batches, if necessary, to avoid crowding the pan.) Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to blot any extra oil, then pile meatballs on a heatproof serving platter and keep warm in the oven.
• Pour off any excess oil from skillet and turn heat to high. Add broth and bring to a simmer. In a bowl, whisk together yogurt; 1/2 teaspoon salt; remaining egg, beaten; and cornstarch. Pour yogurt mixture in a thin stream into the hot broth, whisking constantly. Turn heat down slightly and continue whisking until yogurt is heated through and slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Do not let mixture boil.
• Pour hot yogurt sauce over meatballs. Sprinkle crumbled feta, sumac and crushed red pepper on top. Finish with pinches of turmeric, if using, and sprinkle with mint, dill and cilantro. Serve immediately with rice, orzo, pita bread or potatoes.

LARA'S YOGURT BALLS

Steps:

• Line a strainer with cheesecloth, place it over a bowl and add the yogurt. Put in the refrigerator for two days to drain completely.
• Place the thyme, rosemary, fennel seeds and salt in a bowland combine. Add the yogurt and stir thoroughly to combine. Return to the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• In the meantime, combine the olive oil, chili-pepper flakes, fresh fennel ronds, bay leaves and peppercorns in a shallow dish.
• Shape the yogurt into balls about 1 inch in diameter. Gently roll each one in the shallow dish. Marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to one hour at room temperature. Refrigerate for up to one day before serving.

BROCCOLI BALLS WITH HARISSA-YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Pour about 1 inch of water into a large skillet and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Put the broccoli florets in a steamer basket in an even layer. Set the steamer basket over the boiling water and cook until crisp-tender, about 8 minutes (depending on the size of the florets). Transfer the broccoli to a large plate to cool slightly.
• Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Making sure to reserve the liquid, drain the chickpeas and rinse thoroughly under cold water. Spread the chickpeas evenly on one half of the prepared baking sheet and the broccoli florets on the other half. Pat the chickpeas and broccoli with additional paper towels to remove excess liquid.
• Put the parsley, cilantro, lemon juice, cumin, coriander, baking powder, garlic, onion, 1 teaspoon salt, several grinds of pepper and 3 tablespoons of the reserved chickpea liquid into a food processor. Pulse the ingredients until finely chopped, about 30 seconds. Add the chickpeas and broccoli and pulse again, stopping and scraping down the sides as needed, until the chickpeas and broccoli are finely minced, about 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and stir in the panko. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the yogurt, olive oil, harissa (to preferred spice level), 2 teaspoons water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper in a small bowl. Refrigerate to chill.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F; set a wire rack inside a baking sheet.
• Using a tablespoon or medium scoop, form the chickpea-broccoli mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls, each about 1 heaping tablespoon. Evenly space the balls on the wire rack and spray generously with olive oil spray. Bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through and coating the balls again with olive oil spray, until deep golden and crisp, about 45 minutes. Serve warm with the yogurt sauce.

LABANA (YOGURT CHEESE BALLS)

Steps:

• Mix everything together in a bowl, except the olive oil and then transfer the mixture to a cloth bag.
• Hang it over a sink or another large pot to collect the liquid.
• Allow it to drip for 4 days continuously.
• Shape into walnut-sized balls.
• Transfer to a clean jar.
• Pour in enough olive oil to cover all the prepared balls.
• Store and use as needed.