Lamb Sausage with Mint, Feta, and Garlic and Dill Garlic Yogurt Sauce

Posted on 09 September 2010

Lamb is possibly the perfect meat.

Wait, we need to back up a moment. You need to understand how far I have come from my days of being almost vegetarian.

For many years, the only meat I ate was chicken (with the occasional side of bacon). I even referred to it as the “holy bird.”

Of course, I ate chicken with almost every meal — so maybe not almost vegetarian. But at least no other meat products (other than the occasional side of bacon) ever passed my lips.

Especially not baby animals. Definitely not baby animals.

That all changed when I took my first bite of a lamb gyro.

As a frequent consumer of chicken gyros, I expected the delicate, subtle seasoning. What I wasn’t prepared for was lamb’s tasty tenderness and strong, yet deep flavor. Not at all like beef, but also not gamy like venison. The superlative mix of texture, juiciness, and umami. Irresistible.

My lamb crush only escalated from there. Lamb chops. Baby chops. Lamb burgers. Lamb kebabs. Rack of lamb. Crown roast of lamb.

Even better is that lamb is so well-complemented by a wealth of herbs and spices, generating countless combinations.

Including this stunner: lamb meatballs with feta, mint, and LOTS of garlic. The tangy, sour creaminess of the dill garlic yogurt sauce adeptly offset the rich meatiness of the lamb.

I vow to plan ahead for next year’s Greek festival and not fill up on silly carb-laden food. I will leave room for lamb gyros. Or lamb souvlaki.

As long as it involves lamb, I will be not picky.

Lamb Sausage with Mint, Feta, and Garlic and Dill Garlic Yogurt Sauce

Yield: 12 sausages

Ingredients

For the yogurt sauce

1 1/2 cups lowfat yogurt

3/4 cup finely chopped dill

4 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic

3/4 teaspoon cayenne

For the lamb sausages

1 1/2 pounds ground lamb

5 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

1 tablespoon finely chopped mint

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

Stir together all ingredients for the yogurt sauce. Salt to taste. Chill, covered, at least 30 minutes for all flavors to blend. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Meanwhile, place lamb in a large bowl. Sprinkle with garlic, salt, cheese, and mint. Toss lamb mixture gently to blend.

Divide lamb into 12 equal mounds. Using damp hands, shape each into a ball. Press each ball between palms to flatten into a 3/4-inch-thick disk.

Grill over medium heat, until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees. Serve with yogurt sauce.

https://www.allfourburners.com/2010/09/09/lamb-sausage-with-mint-feta-and-garlic-and-dill-garlic-yogurt-sauce/

Adapted from Bon Appetit and Gourmet

Category: Main Dishes, Recipes
Tags: cheese, dill, feta, garlic, herbs, lamb, mint, yogurt

2 responses to Lamb Sausage with Mint, Feta, and Garlic and Dill Garlic Yogurt Sauce

Rebecca says:

September 18, 2010 at 6:31 AM

I like lamb too – although I don’t think I like it as much as you do – one thing I struggle with is that it is so often paired with mint, and while I like mint flavoring in many things, I don’t tend to like actual mint…would this work without it?

allfourburners says:

September 18, 2010 at 1:43 PM

Rebecca, you don’t like mint? Is this like your potato thing? Yes, you could definitely substitute another herb — maybe try dill?

The yogurt sauce originally called for cilantro, but my cilantro went bad and I had dill, hence the substitution.

All Four Burners