Persian Pomegranate And Pistachio Meatball

Total Time: 27 mins Preparation Time: 12 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1 small onion, completely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups raw pistachios
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 cups fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 cup fresh tarragon, chopped
• 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 lbs ground lamb
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup canola oil or 1/2 cup olive oil
• 3/4 cup pomegranate molasses
• 1/4 cup honey or 1/4 cup grape molasses
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios
• 1 sprig basil
• mixed sprouts
• mint
• 1 cup fresh pomegranate

Recipe

• 1 to make the meatballs: pulse all the ingredients, except the meat and egg, in a food processor until you have a grainy paste.
• 2 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).
• 3 cover and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.
• 4 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.
• 5 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.
• 6 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.
• 7 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.
• 8 place the meatballs with its sauce in deep serving dish and garnish.