Pistachio lamb koftas with apricot relish

These budget-friendly, Middle Eastern-inspired lamb meatballs make a simple yet tasty supper, served with fruity chutney and crisp wholemeal pittas

  • Prep:20 mins
    Cook:20 mins
  • Serves 4
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 626
  • fat 31g
  • saturates 9g
  • carbs 49g
  • sugars 21g
  • fibre 10g
  • protein 32g
  • salt 0.8g

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ tbsp olive oil
  • 3 red onions, 2 ½ thinly sliced, ½ grated
  • 400g lamb mince
  • 1 tbsp ras el hanout
  • 85g pistachios, roughly chopped
  • ½ small pack flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
  • 4 tbsp good-quality apricot jam
  • zest and juice 1 lemon
  • 2 carrots, cut into skinny matchsticks
  • 4 round wholemeal pitta breads, split and warmed
  • 4 tbsp Greek-style yogurt, to serve

Method

  1. Put 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan, add most of the sliced onions with some seasoning and cook over a medium heat for about 15 mins until soft and golden.

  2. Meanwhile, heat the grill to high. In a large bowl, combine the mince, grated onion, ras el hanout, most of the pistachios, half of the parsley and some seasoning. Divide the mixture into 8 and shape into patties. Place on a baking tray and brush with 1/2 tbsp oil. Grill for about 10 mins, turning once, until browned and cooked through. 

  3. Add the apricot jam, a large pinch of zest and half the lemon juice to the cooked sliced onions, bubble down until thick, then set aside. To make the salad, mix the carrots, reserved sliced onions and remaining parsley in a bowl, then toss in the remaining lemon juice and olive oil and some seasoning. To serve, spoon the apricot relish into the pittas. Then add the koftas, salad, yogurt and remaining pistachios. Alternatively, serve the pittas open with the filling piled on top. 

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