Lamb Meatballs with Yogurt Dipping Sauce

I was in the grocery store and saw a package of ground land and decided to buy it.  Then I got home and had no ideas.  I decided that lamb is used frequently in Greek cooking so Mediterranean flavors would be the perfect match.  The cool yogurt Sauce is a nice balance to the Meatballs.  The Meatballs are soft inside and crunchy outside.  All of these items are easily found in your local store and this recipe is quick and easy to make.  If you want to use these as an appetizer for a party, make smaller Meatballs.  If you want to make them as a main course, make 15 Meatballs.  They are great either way.

Ingredients:

For the Sauce:
16 oz container of plain yogurt
1 tsp fresh chopped dill
5 leaves fresh mint, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
Zest of 1/2 lemon
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Pinch salt and pepper

For the Meatballs:

2 large garlic cloves, vminced
1 TBS fresh parsley, minced
1 TBS fresh mint, minced
1 tsp fresh oregano, minced
3/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 TBS olive oil
1/2 cup whole milk
1 lb ground lamb

Here's how:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Start making the Sauce.

Set a small holed strainer inside a medium sized bowl.  Place three sheets of paper towel inside of that then place the yogurt inside the paper towel.  This is to thicken the yogurt.  Set aside.

In a large bowl combine all the meatball ingredients except the lamb in a bowl and stir until completely combined.

Add the lamb and use your hands to make a uniform mixture, being careful not to work the meat too much.

Make into equal sized Meatballs and place on a cookie sheet.

Bake for twenty minutes, turning halfway through.

Turn up the oven to 450 degrees F and leave the Meatballs in for 5-7 minutes.  You are trying to brown the koutside, not burn them.  You do not need to wait until the oven is preheated to do this.  Just crank up the oven with the Meatballs in there.

Remove the Meatballs and set aside.

While the Meatballs are baking in the oven, finish the Sauce.

Pour the liquid that has come out of the yogurt down the drain.  Discard the paper towel and place the yogurt into the bowl.

Stir in all the remaining sauce ingredients into the yogurt and set is aside until the Meatballs are done.

Serve the Meatballs with the dipping sauce on the side.  This would go great with a Greek salad.