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Lentil Lamb Meatballs and Lemon Rice
Hearty lentils help bind these savory beef or lamb meatballs, seasoned with warm spices they're baked with lemon rice, top with mint pesto!
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 837 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Mediterranean
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef or lamb (beef 80/20)
- 1 cup cooked lentils (See Note 1)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp Turmeric
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Rice
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 2 cups water
- 1 lemon zest only
- 1/4 tsp Turmeric
Mint Pesto
- 3 ounces mint leaves (about 2 cups)
- 1 small flat leaf parsley leaves only
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/4 cup golden raisins
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Drain and rinse the lentils. Mix with ground beef or lamb, salt, cumin, red pepper flakes and turmeric. Form into 8 large meatballs (I use a ice cream scoop).
- Grease a 9x13" casserole dish with the tablespoon of olive oil. Arrange the meatballs with plenty of room in 2 rows of 4. Roast 20 minutes, uncovered.
- Mix together 2 cups water, lemon zest and turmeric. Sprinkle 1 cup rice around the roasted meatballs, pour liquid mixture over rice. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 40 minutes.
- In a blender or cup with immersion blender, puree the mint leaves, parsley, garlic, golden raisins, salt and olive oil until smooth.
- Remove foil and fluff rice. Serve plated with lemon rice, 2 meatballs and the mint pesto spooned over the meatballs.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- You can either use 1 cup from a 15 ounce can of lentils (use remainder in a soup) or you can also find cooked/steamed lentils in vacuum packed bags in the the vegetable department of most markets now, typically in the vegetarian section with the tofu, etc. The brand I use is Melissas Lentils Steamed - 9 Oz. Use the entire package.
Nutrition Information
Calories
837kcal
(42%)
Carbohydrates
60g
(20%)
Protein
29g
(58%)
Fat
26g
(40%)
Saturated Fat
6g
(30%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
15g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
81mg
(27%)
Sodium
1550mg
(65%)
Potassium
786mg
(22%)
Fiber
7g
(28%)
Sugar
7g
(14%)
Vitamin A
974IU
(19%)
Vitamin C
23mg
(26%)
Calcium
116mg
(12%)
Iron
6mg
(33%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 837
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 837kcal | 42% |
| Carbohydrates | 60g | 20% |
| Protein | 29g | 58% |
| Fat | 26g | 40% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 15g | 75% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 81mg | 27% |
| Sodium | 1550mg | 65% |
| Potassium | 786mg | 17% |
| Fiber | 7g | 28% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 974IU | 19% |
| Vitamin C | 23mg | 26% |
| Calcium | 116mg | 12% |
| Iron | 6mg | 33% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.