Lamb Meatballs with Kale

These Lamb Meatballs with Kale are served over a bed of Coconut Creamed Kale with shallots. The meatballs are baked to perfection–a ground lamb meatball recipe treat–and served with a side of roasted veggies. We think this is the best dinner party recipe – that guests will love!

We recently served these easy lamb meatballs at a dinner party, and our guests couldn’t stop talking about them. Served with a creamy coconut sauce and kale, this recipe is out of this world! The meatballs are slightly crispy on the outside and perfectly tender on the inside!

Lamb Meatballs with Kale

The meatballs are simply amazing.  So tender, juicy and flavourful, we typically served these lamb meatballs with kale and rice, but today they’re served over a bed of coconut creamed kale (with shallots). I love that one reader wrote: “Our garden kale was ready for picking and a quick internet search of “ground lamb and kale” lead me to this amazing recipe. Coconut milk with lamb and kale tastes like something I should have been eating my whole life. This recipe is a keeper and we will be making it often.”

Why I love this recipe

• You can mix the lamb with beef if you prefer.
• Make the meatballs ahead of time.
• Easy to serve with your favorite side, like more veggies, rice, pasta, mushroom polenta or potatoes.
• This recipe is gluten-free.
• It’s good enough for company!

Of course most meals that we make are good enough for company. What I mean by that is, when we have company, we try to give our guests our best. It doesn’t mean it has to be an expensive meal, because people simply love home-cooked meals. But I try to think both about what’s easy for me to make, and what will my guests enjoy?

Gather these ingredients for the meatballs

• Ground lamb: optional to mix half lamb and half beef if you prefer
• Eggs
• Coriander
• Garlic powder
• Fresh chopped mint
• Fresh chopped parsley
• Almond meal (or panko bread crumbs if not gluten-free)
• Kosher salt
• Ground pepper

For the sauce

• Coconut milk
• Arrowroot, optional, used for thickening
• Minced shallots
• Garlic powder
• Chopped basil: fresh is best
• Olive oil
• Paprika
• Tuscan kale, stems removed and roughly chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

How do you make lamb meatballs in the oven?

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
• In large skillet, heat 2 Tbsp oil on medium-high heat. When hot, add the shallots and cook for 3-4 minutes, until translucent and slightly browned. Add in the coconut milk and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the arrowroot, paprika, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Continue to simmer for about 3 minutes, then add the kale. Stir gently until kale wilts—about 5-7 minutes. After kale wilts, reduce heat to lowest and set aside.
• In a large bowl, add ground lamb and make a crater in the center. Add in almond meal, eggs, coriander, garlic powder, herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix with your hands until all ingredients are combined. Rub about a teaspoon of oil in your hands, then begin to shape the meatballs, about 3 Tbsp per meatball.
• Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet. Place in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. The meatballs should be slightly crispy on the outside.
• When meatballs are done baking, remove from oven and nestle into the wilted kale and sauce.

Tips and substitutions:

I love this recipe because you can make it gluten-free with almond flour (instead of bread crumbs).

For this recipe we seasoned with garlic powder, coriander, kosher salt and peppers. Adding the fresh mint and parsley made the meatballs so flavorful. But you can mix and match your own favorite seasonings.

How do you serve lamb meatballs?

Finally, we love this meatball recipe served with creamy kale, but you can also serve with a side of other roasted veggies, polenta, rice, pasta, potatoes, or even cauliflower rice. This recipe is great for any holiday, too, and this last Christmas we served them for Christmas dinner, ending with this Holiday Rum Bundt Cake recipe – WOW!

For springtime, you may want to make this recipe for Easter, and serve with roasted asparagus.

More meatball recipes you may want to try:

• Moroccan Lamb Stew
• Chicken Paprika Meatballs
• Mini Pork Meatballs
• Sheetpan Spicy Meatballs
• Pork Meatballs in Aromatic Broth
• Game Day Strawberry Balsamic Meatballs
• Dump & Bake Meatball Casserole
• Italian Wedding Soup (with chicken meatballs)

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Lamb Meatballs with Kale

These Lamb Meatballs with Kale are served over a bed of Coconut Creamed Kale with shallots. The meatballs are baked to perfection!

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 35 minutes mins

Total Time: 55 minutes mins

Yield: 8

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Ingredients

 

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Meatballs:

• 2 pounds ground lamb
• 2 beaten eggs
• 5 tsp coriander
• 4 tsp garlic powder
• ½ c fresh chopped mint
• ½ c fresh chopped parsley
• ⅓ heaping cup of almond meal (or panko bread crumbs if not gluten-free)
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp ground pepper

Creamy coconut sauce with kale:

• 1 13 oz can coconut milk
• ½ tsp arrowroot, optional, used for thickening
• ⅔ cup finely minced shallots
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• ½ c roughly chopped basil
• 4 Tbsp olive oil, divided in half
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 bunch of Tuscan kale, stems removed and roughly chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.

Make the sauce for kale:

• In large skillet, heat 2 Tbsp oil on medium-high heat. When hot, add the shallots and cook for 3-4 minutes, until translucent and slightly browned. Add in the coconut milk and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the arrowroot, paprika, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Continue to simmer for about 3 minutes, then add the kale. Stir gently until kale wilts—about 5-7 minutes. After kale wilts, reduce heat to lowest and set aside.

Make the meatballs:

• In a large bowl, add ground lamb and make a crater in the center. Add in almond meal, eggs, coriander, garlic powder, herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix with your hands until all ingredients are combined. Rub about a teaspoon of oil in your hands, then begin to shape the meatballs, about 3 Tbsp per meatball.
• Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet. Place in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. The meatballs should be slightly crispy on the outside.
• When meatballs are done baking, remove from oven and nestle into the wilted kale and sauce. Serve warm!

Notes

Reposted from December 2018.

Cuisine: American

Course: Main Course

Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer

Calories: 374kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 29g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 12g, Trans Fat: 0.004g, Cholesterol: 124mg, Sodium: 737mg, Potassium: 436mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 1229IU, Vitamin C: 14mg, Calcium: 71mg, Iron: 3mg

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