Zaatar Lamb Meatballs with Green Tahini

 Sounds exotic, right?  Zaatar Meatballs and Green Tahini Sauce . . . Just an extension of my adventures with zaatar spice mix and sumac.   I did buy a large amount of these when I went shopping at Sara's awhile back.  I can't only make zaatar pizza, lol.  When this recipe showed up, I thought it would be a perfect use for the spices and I like lamb, so I added the fresh herbs to my shopping list:  parsley, cilantro, dill along with green onions.

The tahini is green because of the parsley and cilantro but the use of lots of garlic and lemon really boost the flavor of the added tahini (sesame paste).  It is good so I have plenty of leftover parsley and cilantro which can be used to make more.  This green tahini is good with lots of things.  It certainly helped to perk up some boiled eggs this morning at breakfast.

The lamb meatballs were quick to make up after I prepped the ingredients in advance to have ready for the final push.  I added an egg and some bread crumbs to the recipe ingredients (spices, garlic, green onion and herbs).  I didn't add extra olive oil as I was using lamb but a tablespoon or 2 might have been good for flavor and moisture.  I did roll the meatballs in the optional toasted sesame seeds.  I love sesame seeds!!

I have an ice cream scoop to make cookies and it worked well to make uniform sized meatballs.  Instead of frying them, I baked in the oven at 400F for 20 minutes.

If I make these meatballs again, I would consider increasing the amount of spices.  I love lamb but I felt the overall flavor needed a boost.  The green tahini does help with that.

The recipe does make about 20 meatballs (how many depends on if you use an ice cream scoop or eyeball with tablespoon) and some have gone in the freezer for future consumption.

Next up are Chocolate Truffles!   I signed up for a kit and instructions from the local chocolatier with whom I took the cocoa bomb on-line class back in November.

Sfeeha and zaatar

 I fall into a few recipes by accident.   Google and YouTube have been sources for a few lately.  Once I find one, it seems others show up.   I have a couple of other recipes lined up to try but don't hang around with bated breath . . . you will expire possibly, lol

The Lebanese Sfeeha (sfiha) showed up MAYBE because I was looking at empanada recipes. Or was it the khanafeh?  So many recipes!!   But I was happy to give it a try because I had all the ingredients . . . even the ground lamb and pine nuts!!

The recipe made a lot!!  I still have about 2 cups of the filling frozen.  I ended up making 2 batches of the dough , , , I used 2 different dough recipes too.   I had sfeeha frozen for future eating.  I have about worked my way though those too so almost time to make more.

Then I happened on the zaatar!   It really was easy because it was just the zaatar spice mix, olive oil, extra sesame seeds and pizza dough I already mixed up.   I had feta cheese to put on top.  Maybe a bit too long in the oven but it wasn't bad.  Maybe too much zaatar too,

Then there was the quicky version using small naan rounds from the grocery store.  Just some awaaki cheese on the top of the zaatar and olive oil then popped in the microwave!!