Gavin Ratcliff

Recipes

Lamb Meatballs

Credit for this recipe goes to Otto Lenghi, but I can't find the source online, I think it was on his blog. I make a ton ahead of time, freeze them and pull them out as needed. These are the perfect pair with a shakshuka, I usually place them in the sauce preheated 1-2 minutes before serving.

Ingredients

  • 1lb ground lamb
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2tbsp thyme leaves (fresh)
  • 100g feta
  • 50g breadcrumbs
  • 1/2tsp cinnamon
  • 1tbsp olive oil
  • Lots of parsley
  • 3/4tsp salt
  • Black pepper

Steps

  • Finely chop the garlic, thyme, and parsley.
  • Combine by hand the lamb, garlic, thyme, breadcrumbs, crumbled feta, cinnamon, parsley, salt, and a good amount of pepper.
  • Preheat oven to 400 and shape into balls,
  • Add meatballs to hot oil in a pan and cook for 7 minutes or so, turning often.
  • Place the meatballs on a pan lined with baking sheet and bake in oven for 5 minutes.
  • Take out of the oven, cool and store frozen.

Shakshuka

I learned this recipe from my friend Zach's mom, who probably learned it from Otto Lenghi. All the ingredients and amounts are really flexible, I make it different every time.

Ingredients

  • Ripe tomatoes, usually 5-8 medium ones
  • A red bell pepper
  • 1tsp tomato paste, I use double concentrated from a tube, but canned is OK
  • 1tsp-3tsp harissa paste, depending on how much spice you want
  • 3-4 garlic cloves
  • 3-4 eggs
  • Feta
  • 1tsp cumin
  • 1tbsp olive oil
  • Salt
  • Chopped parsley

Steps

  • Finely chop the bell pepper and garlic and combine in a bowl with cumin, harissa, tomato paste, pepper, and 1/2tsp salt
  • Add to a cast iron skillet after adding olive oil over medium heat
  • Let cook for 5-8 minutes stirring occasionally, while chopping the tomatoes
  • Add in tomatoes and combine, bring to a simmer
  • Cook for 15 minutes or so stirring until its thick, tasting and salting constantly
  • Make dips in the sauce and crack eggs, simmer for another 10 minutes.
  • Remove from heat, garnish with parsley and feta and serve.