Middle Eastern Bison Meatballs With Cilantro-Yogurt Sauce

Serves: 3

Santiago Howell

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

49

Spice

38

Sweetness

47

Sourness

41

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.1

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 tsp

Fennel Seed

1 tsp

Cumin Seed

1 tsp

Sugar

1 tbsp

Whole Milk

Directions:

1

Reserve remaining ground seeds for meatballs

2

For cilantro-yogurt sauce: Toast all seeds in small skillet over medium heat until aromatic and slightly darker in color, stirring often, about 2 minutes

3

Cool

4

Finely grind seeds in spice mill or coffee grinder

5

Place cilantro and all remaining ingredients in blender

6

Add 1 teaspoon ground seeds and process until smooth sauce forms, scraping down sides frequently

7

Season to taste with salt and pepper

8

Cover sauce and chill

9

DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead

10

Keep refrigerated

11

Store remaining ground seeds in airtight container at room temperature

12

Toast all seeds in small skillet over medium heat until aromatic and slightly darker in color, stirring often, about 2 minutes

13

Cool

14

Finely grind seeds in spice mill or coffee grinder

15

Place cilantro and all remaining ingredients in blender

16

Add 1 teaspoon ground seeds and process until smooth sauce forms, scraping down sides frequently

17

Season to taste with salt and pepper

18

Cover sauce and chill

19

Reserve remaining ground seeds for meatballs

20

DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead

21

Keep refrigerated

22

Store remaining ground seeds in airtight container at room temperature

23

For meatballs: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy small skillet over medium heat

24

Add onion and garlic and sauté until soft, stirring frequently, about 7 minutes (do not brown)

25

Cool

26

Toss breadcrumbs with milk in small bowl to moisten

27

Place cooled onion mixture, breadcrumb mixture, reserved ground seeds from cilantro-yogurt sauce, jalapeño, and yogurt in processor

28

Using on/off turns, process until coarse puree forms

29

Transfer mixture to medium bowl

30

Add bison, egg, cilantro, sage, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, pepper, and allspice

31

Using hands or fork, mix until just blended

32

Using damp hands, form bison mixture into 1 1/4-inch balls

33

DO AHEAD: Can be made 6 hours ahead

34

Cover and chill

35

Preheat oven to 300°F

36

Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over medium heat

37

Working in 2 batches, cook meatballs until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes per batch

38

Transfer meatballs to rimmed baking sheet

39

Place in oven to keep warm up to 15 minutes

40

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy small skillet over medium heat

41

Add onion and garlic and sauté until soft, stirring frequently, about 7 minutes (do not brown)

42

Cool

43

Toss breadcrumbs with milk in small bowl to moisten

44

Place cooled onion mixture, breadcrumb mixture, reserved ground seeds from cilantro-yogurt sauce, jalapeño, and yogurt in processor

45

Using on/off turns, process until coarse puree forms

46

Transfer mixture to medium bowl

47

Add bison, egg, cilantro, sage, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, pepper, and allspice

48

Using hands or fork, mix until just blended

49

Using damp hands, form bison mixture into 1 1/4-inch balls

50

DO AHEAD: Can be made 6 hours ahead

51

Cover and chill

52

Preheat oven to 300°F

53

Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over medium heat

54

Working in 2 batches, cook meatballs until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes per batch

55

Transfer meatballs to rimmed baking sheet

56

Place in oven to keep warm up to 15 minutes

57

Serve meatballs with cilantro-yogurt sauce for dipping

58

Serve meatballs with cilantro-yogurt sauce for dipping

59

*A thick yogurt; sold at some supermarkets, specialty foods stores (such as Trader Joe's and Whole Foods), and Greek markets

60

If unavailable, place plain whole-milk yogurt in cheesecloth-lined strainer set over large bowl

61

Cover and chill 4 hours to drain

62

*A thick yogurt; sold at some supermarkets, specialty foods stores (such as Trader Joe's and Whole Foods), and Greek markets

63

If unavailable, place plain whole-milk yogurt in cheesecloth-lined strainer set over large bowl

64

Cover and chill 4 hours to drain