Ingredients

  • 1 (5.25-ounce) box tabbouleh mix, minus spice packet
  • 2 pounds ground lamb
  • 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon dried mint flakes
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
  • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
  • 2 large whole bay leaves

Method

  • Place tabbouleh in a large heatproof bowl; add 1 cup boiling water, cover, and let stand 30 minutes. Add lamb, next 5 ingredients, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Mix well with hands, and shape into golf ball-size meatballs. Lightly spritz meatballs with cooking spray.
  • Coat a large heavy pot or Dutch oven with cooking spray, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, and heat 2 minutes over high heat. Brown meatballs in 3 batches over medium-high heat, about 5 minutes per batch, shaking pot so meatballs brown evenly. Add remaining olive oil as needed. Drain browned meatballs on paper towels.
  • Deglaze pot with 1 cup water, cooking 2 minutes over medium heat and stirring to loosen browned particles. Add tomato sauce, bay leaves, and remaining pepper, cumin, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil, and return meatballs to pot; cover and simmer 10 minutes. Discard bay leaves, and serve meatballs and sauce warm, or freeze.
  • Note: If freezing, cool meatballs in sauce 30 minutes, transfer to a shallow 4-quart freezer-to-oven casserole dish, and cover with aluminum foil; label and date the container. To reheat thawed meatballs, bake, still wrapped in foil, at 350° for 45 minutes or until warm.