- 1/3 cup minced onion
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried mint, crumbled
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- a pinch cinnamon
- 1 pound ground lamb (10% fat)
- 1 cup fine fresh bread crumbs
- 1 large egg, beaten lightly
- 2 tablespoons dried currants
- 1/4 cup black sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup white sesame seeds, toasted lightly
- Accompaniment:
- 2 cups plain yogurt
- 1/4 cup packed fresh mint leaves, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- available at Asian markets and some specialty foods shops and supermarkets
- In a small non-stick skillet cook onion and garlic in oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened. Transfer mixture to a bowl and stir in mint, salt, allspice, and cinnamon. Add lamb, bread crumbs, egg, and currants and combine well. Form level tablespoons of lamb mixture into 1 1/4-inch meatballs, arranging on a tray as formed.
- In a small bowl roll half of meatballs, 1 at a time, in black sesame seeds until coated, transferring to a rack set in a shallow baking pan. Coat remaining meatballs with white sesame seeds in same manner, transferring to rack. Meatballs may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead and chilled, covered loosely.
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Bake meatballs in upper third of oven 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden and just cooked through.
- In a fine sieve set over a bowl drain yogurt, covered and chilled, 3 hours. Discard whey in bowl and transfer yogurt cheese to bowl. Yogurt cheese may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered.
- Into yogurt cheese stir mint and salt. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.