mini lamb meatball pitas

if you learn one thing about me, it should be that lamb is my love language. if you cracked open my soul, you would find entire chapters of harry potter memorized, the moment when my sister and i shared a candlelit dinner on the banks of the adriatic sea in croatia, and many, many a lamb dish baked into every fiber of my being.

I truthfully don’t remember the first time I ate lamb. I was a very picky eater as a child, and spent most of my early college years slamming apple cinnamon poptarts and later graduating to frozen turkey burgers and thinking that I was practically giada de laurentiis’ doppelgänger. it was a weird time, and I catalog most of it under ‘dumb shit I did a decade ago.’ many stories for another time, ok?

anyway, I digress. LAMB. some of my most favorite experiences and meals are centered around lamb, and it is one of those foods that never fail to make my heart flutter, and is usually my go-to order no matter how it’s prepared. it feels luxurious and exotic, and generally pairs with a lot of my other favorite things: middle eastern food, lemon, mint, red wine, sun-dried tomatoes, wood-fired pita… ok, you get it you get it you get it. lamb = living my best life.

these mini lamb meatball pitas are cute, easy, awesome for meal prep, and totally customizable. like how fun would a pita bar be? or ditch the pita and make a big salad! so many options, guys! if you are new to lamb or weary of lamb, here’s my earnest nudge to make it - lamb is definitely a different flavor than your run of the mill beef or chicken, but it plays so well with bright, cool flavors and is such a fun protein to add into your repertoire. trust me.

mini lamb meatball pitas
makes 22 meatballs
prep time: 15 minutes
cook time: 15 minutes

for the meatballs :
1lb ground lamb
2tsp tomato paste
1/4c fresh parsley, chopped
1 scallion, chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
1tsp sea salt
1/2tsp coriander
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2tsp black pepper
1/4tsp cumin

for the pitas :
mini pitas (I got mini whole wheat pitas from trader joe’s)
hummus
pickled red onion
mini cucumber slices
diced tomatoes

preheat oven to 400.

combine all ingredients for the meatballs (your hands are your best tools here.) roll into small balls, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. bake for 15 minutes until the lamb is cooked through.

next, assemble the pitas! spread hummus on the pita, then top with a meatballs, pickled onion, cucumber slices, and tomatoes.