Hamdi Saidani This Jamie Oliver 15 Minute Meal Lamb Meatballs is a flavorful and satisfying recipe, which includes lamb mince and a spiced chickpea tomato sauce. It’s a quick, family-friendly dinner ready in about 20 minutes.
Jamie Oliver 15 Minute Meal Lamb Meatballs Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 400g lean lamb mince
- 1 heaped tsp garam masala
- Olive oil
- 1 pinch saffron
- ½–1 fresh red chilli
- 2 spring onions
- ½ bunch fresh coriander
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 × 400g tin chickpeas
- 350g passata
Salad:
- ½ cucumber
- 2 little gem lettuces
- 1 bunch radishes
- 2 ripe tomatoes
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lemon
To Serve:
- 1 heaped tsp harissa
- 4 heaped tbsp fat-free natural yoghurt
- 8 small wholewheat tortillas
- 1 orange
How To Make Jamie Oliver 15 Minute Meal Lamb Meatballs
- Form and cook meatballs: Mix lamb with garam masala, salt, and pepper. Divide into 16 meatballs and sear in a hot pan with olive oil until browned on all sides.
- Start saffron chickpea sauce: Soak saffron in boiling water. Slice chilli, spring onions, and coriander stalks. Fry with garlic in a lidded pan, then add saffron water, drained chickpeas, and passata. Bring to a boil, cover.
- Prepare salad: Roughly chop cucumber, lettuce, radishes, and tomatoes. Toss with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Combine and simmer: Add chickpea sauce to the meatballs and let simmer. Adjust thickness with water as needed. Season to taste.
- Warm tortillas & serve: Microwave tortillas. Mix harissa into yoghurt. Serve meatballs with salad, tortillas, harissa yoghurt, and orange wedges.
Recipe Tips
- How to keep meatballs from drying out?
Don’t overcook. Browning them first locks in moisture. - Can I make it spicier?
Add extra chilli or more harissa to taste. - What’s a good yoghurt substitute?
Use Greek yoghurt or a dairy-free version. - Do I need to use saffron?
Optional, but adds a unique flavor and color.
What To Serve With Lamb Meatballs
Serve with:
- Hummus or baba ganoush
- Couscous or bulgur wheat
- Pomegranate seeds for garnish
- Mint tea or a light beer
How To Store Lamb Meatballs
Refrigerate:
Store meatballs and sauce separately from salad and tortillas. Use within 2 days.
Reheat:
Gently reheat meatballs in sauce. Tortillas can be microwaved fresh.
Lamb Meatballs Nutrition Facts
- Calories: ~687 per serving
- Fat: 32g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Protein: 40g
- Sugar: 8g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Can I use beef instead of lamb?
Yes, beef mince works well but will have a slightly different flavor.
Can I prep the meatballs ahead?
Yes, shape and refrigerate up to a day before cooking.
What can I use instead of chickpeas?
Try white beans or lentils for a different twist.
Can I grill the meatballs instead?
Yes, grilling adds smoky flavor but pan-searing is quicker.
Jamie Oliver 15 Minute Meal Lamb Meatballs
Course: DinnerCuisine: Mediterranean-InspiredDifficulty: Easy4
servings5
minutes10
minutes687
Spiced lamb meatballs in a saffron chickpea tomato sauce served with crunchy salad, warm tortillas, and harissa yoghurt for a fresh, bold meal.
Ingredients
400g lamb mince
1 tsp garam masala
Olive oil
Pinch saffron
½–1 red chilli
2 spring onions
½ bunch coriander
2 garlic cloves
400g chickpeas
350g passata
½ cucumber
2 little gem lettuces
1 bunch radishes
2 tomatoes
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lemon
1 tsp harissa
4 tbsp yoghurt
8 tortillas
1 orange
Directions
- Mix and shape lamb into 16 meatballs, sear until golden.
- Soak saffron, fry chilli, onions, coriander stalks, garlic. Add saffron water, chickpeas, and passata. Simmer.
- Chop salad veggies and toss with olive oil, lemon juice.
- Combine sauce with meatballs, simmer until heated through.
- Microwave tortillas, mix harissa and yoghurt, and serve all with orange wedges.
Notes
- Saffron adds aroma but can be skipped.
- Use beef or chicken if preferred.
- Yogurt and harissa add creaminess and heat.
- Assemble wraps fresh to avoid sogginess.