This recipe for Paleo Lamb Keftedes with Spiced Tomato Sauce and Feta are meatballs that are usually a very popular Greek appetizer. Commonly made with lamb, pork or a combination of different ground meats, they’re made tender by gently folding in grated onion instead of breadcrumbs. They’re packed with fresh herbs, and commonly served as part of a meze platter with various dips and pita bread. The Greek restaurant Ryan and I frequent in the Bay Area serves theirs with a piquant red sauce and a crumbling of feta cheese on top.
When I developed my seasoning blends for the Healthy in a Hurry cookbook, I found myself using the Mediterranean blend frequently. It’s slightly peppery and full of some of my favorite dried herbs like oregano, dill and rosemary. If you mix up a jar or purchase my Gluten Free and Organic Certified packaged blends, you’ll use it on dishes like my Mediterranean Meatball Bowl with Spicy Ranch (page 147), or the Single Sheet Pan Mediterranean Salmon with Artichokes and Peppers (page 163).
After the book went to the printer, I started experimenting and testing recipes that utilize the seasoning blends so you could continue making delicious and easy meals long after you’ve cooked your way Julia and Julie style through Healthy in a Hurry. This recipe for paleo Lamb Keftedes for a beautiful appetizer served with the grain-free Naan from Eat What You Love (page 268), or you can serve it with cauliflower rice and a big green salad to make it a filling dinner.
My Shortcuts
- I almost always have these paleo lamb keftedes meatballs in my freezer. I love adding them to spaghetti sauce over gluten-free pasta for a quick dinner for the kids, using them in my Instant Pot Magic Pasta from the blog, or putting them in my kid’s lunches with a little marinara or ketchup for dipping.
- I use Raos or any other paleo-friendly jarred marinara and spice it up with my Cajun Seasoning. To speed this up even more – feel free to purchase your favorite store-bought gluten-free meatballs and just sprinkle a little of the Mediterranean Seasoning on them when you brown them.
I hope you love this recipe! If you are looking for more greek inspired recipes, here are some of my favorites:
Paleo Lamb Keftedes with Spiced Tomato Sauce and Feta
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Rest Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground lamb
- 1 red onion, grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Healthy in a Hurry Mediterranean Seasoning*
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 cup finely ground plantain chips
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup arrowroot powder
- 3 cups Raos marinara sauce
- 1 ⁄3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 teaspoons Healthy in a Hurry Cajun Seasoning*
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- fresh mint leaves
Instructions
- Add the lamb, onion, garlic, seasoning, salt, ground plantain chips, egg, and oil to a large bowl and mix with hands, squeezing and massaging the meat to allow the flavors to incorporate. Cover the bowl and let the mixture rest in the fridge for 1 hour.
- Roll the mixture with palms into balls, the size of a walnut. Dredge each meatball lightly in arrowroot, until evenly covered. Transfer to a plate, shaking off any excess arrowroot.
- To fry the lamb meatballs: use a large, deep skillet and pour enough avocado oil into the pan to reach a depth of ½-inch. Heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs in batches in a single layer and fry for about 7 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and crisp on all sides. Using a slotted spoon, remove the meatballs to a plate lined with paper.
- Heat the marinara sauce, olive oil, and Cajun seasoning over low heat. Spread the sauce in a shallow bowl, add the meatballs, and top with feta and mint. Serve hot.
* If you would like to make any of the spice blends in this recipe from scratch, the full recipes of all the spice blends are in my cookbook Healthy in a Hurry. If you would like to purchase the spices ready-made, click here.
9/23/22
Paleo Lamb Keftedes with Spiced Tomato Sauce and Feta
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