If you are bored of beef and pork meatballs, I have a luscious recipe to share: ground mutton meatballs and rice cooked in the oven. I usually serve this with Greek yoghurt to assuage the spices, but you may also enjoy it as it is.

Flavoursome Mutton Meatballs and Rice in the Oven
Today I will share a flavoursome recipe of ground mutton meatballs & rice baked in the oven. If you're not a picante fan, you should serve this with yogurt to lessen the spiciness.
Ingredients
Mince
1 pound ground lamb (minced lamb) - use mutton for a richer flavour
1 medium red onion - finely chopped
1 clove garlic - grated
1 medium egg
⅓ teaspoon ground cloves
⅓ teaspoon ground cumin
⅓ teaspoon ground nutmeg
⅓ teaspoon rosemary - grated
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon mustard
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon salt - or to taste
½ teaspoon ground black pepper - or to taste
Rice
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup white rice
3 cups chicken stock (chicken broth or chicken bouillon)
1 medium yellow onion - grated
1 teaspoon salt - or to taste
Instructions
- Make sure the toast slices are dry and grind them in a blender to make crumbs. Alternatively, you can use stale bread.
- Mix all the ingredients for the mince and form 8 meatballs.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C.
- In a non-stick pan, heat the oil and cook the meatballs until brown. Remove them to a plate and saute the chopped onion and butter in the same pan.
- Once the onions are caramelised, saute the rice for 2 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth and salt and boil.
- After 5 minutes, move the rice into a baking pan or Pyrex and place the meatballs in between.
- Cover with baking paper and foil on top or just aluminium foil and place in the oven; bake covered for 20 minutes.
- Then remove the paper/foil and continue baking for 15 minutes until liquids are absorbed.
- Serve with yogurt and lemon for a more refreshing taste.
Notes
Yogurt for serving is optional but highly recommended.
Nutrition
Calories: 753kcalCarbohydrates: 63gProtein: 30gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 152mgSodium: 1771mgPotassium: 547mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 318IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 86mgIron: 4mg
How did this recipe turn out for you?We’re eager to hear your thoughts!