Lamb Meatballs With Foie Gras Sauce, Mint And Pecorino Recipe

Lamb Meatballs With Foie Gras Sauce, Mint And Pecorino Recipe A meatball so good it doesn't even need spaghetti. (Photo: Andre Baranowski.
Mike Abruzese•

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New York City may be a renowned global food hub. But just north of the Tri-State Area lies the rich, verdant Hudson Valley — home to wonderful farms, cheese producers and craft distilleries (plus restaurants that use the local products to their full potential). A new cookbook, Hudson Valley Chef's Table, is a compilation of recipes from beloved restaurants from Westchester to Columbia counties.

This rich lamb meatball recipe comes from chef Mike Abruzese at Polpettina in Eastchester, NY. Did we mention the Hudson Valley has some of the best foie gras on earth?

Reprinted with permission from Hudson Valley Chef's Table

Lamb Meatballs With Foie Gras Sauce, Mint And Pecorino Recipe
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Prep Time
35
minutes
Cook Time
1
hour
Servings
6
- 8
Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 shallots sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 pound Hudson Valley foie gras (Grade B or C is fine)
  • 1 cup cream sherry
  • 3 cups heavy cream
  • sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 pound ground lamb
  • 2 slices good white bread
  • 2 tablespoons mint
  • 1/4 cup parsley
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup shaved pecorino
Directions
  1. In a saucepan over low heat, heat the olive oil and then add the shallots and garlic, sautéing them until translucent.
  2. Raise the heat to medium-high and toss in the foie gras. Sauté the pieces until they’re nicely caramelized (be very careful not to burn the foie gras).
  3. When the foie is nicely caramelized, pour in the sherry and cook the mixture, scraping up the brown bits, until the liquid is reduced to a syrup consistency.
  4. Add the heavy cream and simmer until the sauce is reduced by half. When reduced, transfer mixture to a blender (ideally, a Vitamix) and blend the sauce until it is very smooth.
  5. Pass the sauce through a fine mesh strainer and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
  6. In a medium-size bowl mix the ground lamb with the egg, bread, 1 tablespoon of the mint, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper and smoked paprika.
  7. Shape the mixture into 1-inch-diameter balls. In a very large skillet (preferably cast-iron), heat the olive oil.
  8. Add the meatballs and fry them over medium-high heat until they’re thoroughly browned and cooked, approximately 4 minutes.
  9. Blot the meatballs on a paper towel-lined plate.
  10. Serve with warm foie gras sauce, the remaining mint, and shaved pecorino.
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