• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Cooking On The Ranch logo

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Roundup
  • Contact Me
  • Join Community
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Soups, Stews, & Chilis
  • About
  • Recipe Roundup
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home > Appetizers and Beverages > Spiced Lamb Meatballs, Wine Tasting Appetizer

    Spiced Lamb Meatballs, Wine Tasting Appetizer

    Published: Feb 24, 2013 · Modified: Aug 2, 2020 by Lea Ann Brown · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Easy party appetizer recipe. Spicy lamb meatballs

    This is a recipe for Spiced Lamb Meatballs which can be served as an appetizer or a main course. Absolutely delicious with flavor, beautiful in texture, this was perfect for our wine tasting party and a wonderful appetizer for our Italian Red Wine, Amarone.

    Spicy lamb meatballs. Easy dinner idea or wine tasting party appetizer recipe.

    Our February Wine Time party fell on Valentine’s Day and I was very happy to be celebrating at home with good friends, an incredible selection of wine and a table full of small bites. Beats fighting crowds at a restaurant any day.

    Feb collage 1
    February Collage 2

    The usual suspects were there, Tom, Kathy, Dan, Teri, Bob, myself, the dogs and the Cheetos.

    Self-appointed sommelier, Bob chose an incredible wine, an Italian Amarone. Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2006. It was luscious and decadent with aromas of black licorice and blueberry and juicy round tannins.

    Wine Spectator tells us: From the region known as the Veneto, stretching from the shores of Lake Garda in the west to near Venice in the east. Its best terroirs lie among the valleys and rolling hills, with many of its more distinctive vineyards cultivated in the traditional pergola canopy style.

    Select bunches of the local Corvina, Corvignone, Rondinella and Molinara grapes are dried in a fruttaio, a room designed to maintain the proper humidity and temperature levels to remove moisture from the grapes without allowing mold or fungus to spread. The drying period begins immediately after harvest and lasts until late December or January, after which the dried grape bunches are fermented into wine. The higher sugar content of the dried grapes increases the wine’s overall alcohol level. This process is used for Amarone production across the board, but may also be utilized for other of the region’s reds.

    It was perfect for a Valentine’s Day Celebration.

    As usual we were spoiled with a great line up of appetizers to compliment the wine that we sipped.

    cheese plate

    Tom and Kathy brought an impressive cheese and salumi plate from a cheese restaurant they recently discovered. Bin 1884 Cheese Bar is located at 1884 S. Pearl St. in Denver. We enjoyed a sampling of Pecorino Sardo Medora, an Italian semi-firm and a Compo de Monteban, a Spanish three milk cheese and Nepolitana sausage. The plate was garnished with a baguette, some flatbread and crackers. Impressive and unique flavors.

    pickles

    A simple bowl of some not so simple in flavor pickles. These are the cumin-lime pickles that I made for the Chicken Chorizo burgers a few days before wine night. Stand alone, these pickles were a really nice snack.

    cupcakes

    And look at these chocolate cupcakes Teri brought. And no, she didn’t pick them up at the local bakery. She made and decorated them herself. Beautiful treat for Valentine’s Day. She even made those little sugared hearts that decorate the top, and yes they were very edible.

    Spicy Lamb meatball recipe. Easy dinner idea or wine party appetizer recipe.

    Bob suggested I make a spicy lamb meatball recipe that he found in Wine Spectator Magazine. As I’ve mentioned before, every recipe I’ve tried from that magazine has been impressive. These were easy, tender in texture and spiced just enough to be interesting.

    And don’t miss another favorite of ours for Swedish Meatballs. A recipe from expert chef, Marcus Samuelsson.

    Spicy Lamb meatball recipe. Easy dinner idea or wine party appetizer recipe.

    Spicy Lamb Meatballs

    A great recipe for your next party appetizer. Great for a wine tasting party.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer Recipes
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 229kcal
    Author: Lea Ann Brown

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound ground lamb
    • 1 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
    • 1 clove Garlic minced
    • 1 teaspoon Thyme dried
    • 1 Tablespoon Mustard
    • 1/2 Cup Panko bread crumbs
    • 1/2 Cup Italian bread crumbs
    • 3/4 Cup Milk
    • 1 large Egg
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Add a little more milk if needed for consistency. Mix well. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls, and place them on a greased baking sheet 1 inch apart. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
    • Preheat the oven to 350° F. Bake the meatballs for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they are no longer pink in the center. Remove, and serve immediately. Makes 30 meatballs.

    Notes

    Serving idea: With toothpicks and served on a bed of arugula for color.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 229kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 492mg | Potassium: 194mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 201IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @lannisam or tag #CookingOnTheRanch!

    Spicy Lamb Meatballs…It’s What’s for an Appetizer.

    « Jacques Pepin’s Beef Stew In Red Wine Sauce
    Micky Duffy’s Easy Crushed Pineapple Cake Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chris says

      February 26, 2013 at 3:30 pm

      These were not bahahahahad 😉

      Reply
    2. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

      February 26, 2013 at 7:17 am

      What a fun way to spend Valentine’s Day. Good food, good wine and good friends…way better than going to a restaurant.

      Reply
    3. Rhonda says

      February 26, 2013 at 6:19 am

      Love lamb balls, wait that doesn’t sound right. I love lamb anything. Looks like a great way to spend Valentine’s Day. Again those pickles! I gotta make those too.

      Reply
    4. Jenn says

      February 26, 2013 at 5:29 am

      Sounds like an absolutely fabulous evening… and I’m loving that you always have Cheetos with your wine time 🙂

      Reply
    5. Nancy/SpicieFoodie says

      February 25, 2013 at 4:08 pm

      5 stars
      What a great party, and all that food is making my mouth water. Lamb meatballs are so so good! I love your recipe and that you added cayenne. Thanks for sharing:)

      Reply
    6. Vickie says

      February 25, 2013 at 11:03 am

      Well this post just made my mouth water – loved the wine description (tell Bob I said good job). I want to taste one of those beautiful kabobs and take a big bite of those gorgeous cupcakes. And then I’d probably stand around the Cheeto bowl. Because, hey, they’re Cheetos. 🙂

      Reply
    7. Holly says

      February 25, 2013 at 9:40 am

      My husband grew up eating lamb but I didn’t and I don’t choose to cook it at home. I think I could try this recipe, the lamb meatballs wouldn’t be too far out of my comfort zone and they sound great! Glad you had such a nice evening with friends!

      Reply
    8. Larry says

      February 25, 2013 at 4:54 am

      Good looking spread and the wine sounds excellent – Bob knows how to do it. You guys know how to have fun and the pups look cute with their bows.

      Reply
    9. dan says

      February 24, 2013 at 3:06 pm

      I’m tellin’ ya, it was all the real deal. By the way, those cool tall-boy skewers for the meatballs made a nice presentation.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    I'm Lea Ann, A Culinary School Grad obsessed with South of The Border cuisine. Mexican, Southwestern and Wild West Recipes. If you're an adventurous home cook looking to spice up your meal plans, you'll find plenty of inspiration for reliable, approachable recipes.

    More about me →

    Reader's Favorites

    • Thick and Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe
    • Savory Oven Roasted Cast Iron Skillet Potatoes
    • Broccoli Cheez Whiz Rice Casserole
    • Santa Fe Chicken Wings, Crispy Baked Wings

    Soups & Stews

    • Lemon Ginger Chicken Soup Recipe
    • Best Slow Cooker Beef Stew With Mushrooms
    • Chicken Poblano Soup With Hominy
    • Cowboy Chili With Kidney Beans

    Taco Tuesdays

    Taco recipes

    Dessert Recipes

    • Chile Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Bourbon Frosting
    • No Bake Key Lime Pie Recipe With Eagle Brand Milk
    • Strawberry Tart Recipe with Lemon Cream Cheese Filling
    • Cherry Delight, No Bake Old Fashioned Cream Cheese Cherry Dessert

    Footer

    Featured in and partnered with

    Privacy Policy

    • Privacy Policy

    Accessibility Statement

    Copyright © 2022 Cooking On The Ranch • Privacy Policy

    185 shares
    185 shares