Fast & Easy Dinner: Roasted Lamb Meatballs With Polenta

Ingredients

3 slices whole wheat bread, crusts discarded, chopped
3 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 large cloves garlic, grated
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
1 red onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
One 28-ounce can crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
1 cup whole milk or half-and-half
1 cup polenta
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon chopped rosemary

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°.
2. In a bowl, moisten the bread with 1/3 cup chicken broth. Add the lamb, egg, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Form the mixture into 8 meatballs.
3. Brush with olive oil and set 2 inches apart on a rimmed nonstick baking sheet. Roast for 15 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil, over medium heat. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper and cook until softened, 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Add the vinegar and cook it off, 1 minute. Stir in 2/3 cup chicken broth, then the tomatoes.
6. Bring the sauce just to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
7. In a medium saucepan, bring the remaining 2 cups chicken broth and the milk to a boil. Whisk in the polenta, lower the heat and cook, whisking, until the polenta is thick but spoonable, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the honey, butter, rosemary and salt and pepper to taste. If it gets too thick, add water or more milk.
8. Spoon the polenta into bowls; top with the meatballs and sauce.

Serves 4.

print recipe