Roasted Lamb Meatballs with Red Sauce and Polenta
December 2007
1 people tried this recipe.
4 servings Prep: 10 mins
Ingredients
- 3 slices whole wheat bread, crusts discarded, chopped
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 2 large cloves garlic, grated
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), plus more for brushing
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 28 ounce can crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
- 1 cup whole milk or half-and-half
- 1 cup polenta
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon chopped rosemary
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees . In a bowl, moisten the bread with 1/3 cup chicken broth. Add the lamb, egg, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Form the mixture into 8 meatballs. Brush with EVOO and set 2 inches apart on a rimmed nonstick baking sheet. Roast for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon EVOO, 1 turn of the pan, over medium heat. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper and cook until softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the vinegar and cook it off, 1 minute. Stir in 2/3 cup chicken broth, then the tomatoes. Bring the sauce just to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- In a medium saucepan, bring the remaining 2 cups chicken broth and the milk to a boil. Whisk in the polenta, lower the heat and cook, whisking, until the polenta is thick but spoonable, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the honey, butter, rosemary and salt and pepper to taste. If it gets too thick, add water or more milk.
- Spoon the polenta into bowls; top with the meatballs and sauce.