cookMoroccan Meatballs with Arugula

At the London takeaway restaurant Leon, lamb meatballs are simmered in a harissa-spiked tomato sauce, served over peppery arugula, and drizzled with bright yogurt-thickened aïoli. From: Saveur SERVES 4

½ cup milk
1½ whole wheat 8” pitas, torn into 1” pieces
2 lb. ground lamb
1½ cups minced parsley
¾ cup minced mint
1 tsp. dried oregano
9 cloves garlic, 6 minced, 3 peeled and crushed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 (28-oz.) can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand
1½ tbsp. harissa
2 egg yolks
½ cup canola oil
¾ cup Greek yogurt
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
½ cup roughly chopped basil
8 cups baby arugula
16 cherry tomatoes, halved

Combine milk and pita in a bowl; let sit until bread is soft, about 5 minutes. Add lamb, 1 cup of the parsley, the mint, oregano, ¼ of the minced garlic, salt, and pepper; mix to combine and divide into thirty-six 1-oz. balls. Heat half the olive oil in a 6-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook meatballs until browned, 4–6 minutes. Transfer to a plate; set aside. Add remaining olive oil to pan; return to medium-high heat. Cook crushed garlic until golden, 1–2 minutes. Add tomatoes, harissa, salt, and pepper; simmer until sauce is slightly thickened, 5–7 minutes. Add reserved meatballs; cook, covered, until meatballs are tender, about 15 minutes. Whisk remaining minced garlic, the egg yolks, salt, and pepper in a bowl; while whisking, drizzle in canola oil until aïoli is emulsified. Whisk in yogurt and lemon juice; drizzle aïoli over meatballs. Garnish with remaining parsley and the basil; serve with arugula and tomatoes.

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