Persian Pomegranate And Pistachio Meatball Recipes

Steps:

• To make the meatballs: Pulse all the ingredients, except the meat and egg, in a food processor until you have a grainy paste.
• Transfer to a large mixing bowl and add the meat and egg. Lightly knead with your hands for a few minutes (do not over mix).
• Cover and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 500?F. Generously oil a wide, nonreactive baking dish (wide enough to fit 24 meatballs, about 12x14 inches) and set aside.
• Remove the paste from the refrigerator and shape into bite-sized balls (about 1 1/2 tablespoons each, you can use an ice cream scoop) and place the meatballs in the baking dish and brush well with oil. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl combine all the ingredients for the glaze. It is important that you taste the glaze and be sure that it has a good balance between sweet and sour-add more honey if the pomegranate molasses you have used is too sour.
• Reduce the oven to 400?F. Glaze the meatballs and bake for another 5 minutes to infuse them with the flavor of the pomegranate. Adjust seasoning to taste. If too sour add more honey; if too sweet add more pomegranate molasses. Keep warm in the oven until ready to serve.
• Place the meatballs with its sauce in deep serving dish and garnish.

Steps:

• Combine lamb, bread crumbs, scallions, mint, advieh, dill, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add beaten eggs; knead by hand until smooth and sticky. Cover and refrigerate until flavors blend, at least 30 minutes.
• Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Form the lamb mixture into 1-inch balls. Arrange on a rimmed baking sheet. Mist the tops with cooking spray.
• Broil in the preheated oven for 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet and broil for 3 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 140 degrees F (60 degrees C).
• Brush the meatballs with pomegranate molasses as soon as they come out of the oven.

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl and mix them together with your hands, really pummelling the meat so that the spices and seasoning get well mixed in. Using wet hands, form the meat into 24 balls just a little bigger than a walnut.
• As you form these, put them on to a baking sheet or a tray. Cover them and put in the fridge for 45 mins or so to firm up.
• For the sauce, put the cherries and the pomegranate juice in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Take the pan off the heat and leave the cherries to sit in the warm liquid and plump up for 40 mins or so.
• Heat ½ tbsp olive oil in a frying pan and fry the meatballs in batches (they will give off lots of oil when frying). Transfer to a plate as each lot are browned. Remember you aren't cooking these through, just browning them. Gently fry the onion in 1 tbsp oil in a large shallow casserole or deep frying pan until pale gold. Add the garlic and cook for another couple of mins, then add the wine, stock, pomegranate molasses, cinnamon and bay. Add the cherries, too - they should have absorbed nearly all of the pomegranate juice.
• Put the meatballs back in the pan. Bring the sauce to just under boiling, then turn the heat down low, season well, cover the pan and cook for 15 mins. Take the lid off and cook for another 15 mins. You should have a nice sauce around the meatballs, but if it seems too thin, remove the meatballs and reduce the sauce by boiling it, then put the meatballs back in.
• Taste for seasoning - you should consider the sweetness as well as the saltiness - and adjust it if you need to (you could add a teaspoon of honey, or a little more pomegranate molasses). Scatter with the herbs, pistachios and pomegranate seeds to finish.

Steps:

• *Note: I didn't have enough bulgur for this recipe and substitute cracked wheat and skipped the soaking (not necessary).
• Prepare meatballs. Place bulgur in a medium bowl and pour hot water on top. Let soak for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine lamb, beef, onion, walnuts, spices black pepper, salt, egg, mint, and pomegranate molasses.
• Add bulgur to meat mixture and mix. I find it best to refrigerate the meatball mixture first for at least 30 minutes before forming.
• PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• With slightly damp hands form mixture into meatballs*. I used an oiled cookie scoop to help me form the meatballs.
• Place meatballs on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes.
• Drain on paper towel then transfer the meatballs to a serving platter. I garnished them with fresh mint and a light drizzle of pomegranate molasses. If desired, serve a bowl of plain yogurt on the side to accompany the meatballs.
• *Note: if serving this as an appetizer, use 1 tablespoon of the meat mixture to form each meatball.