14 eastern lamb recipes

Middle Eastern lamb kebabs (kofta) blend ground lamb with garlic, ginger, cumin, mint, and parsley before grilling on skewers. Serve with pita, salad, and yogurt for an authentic mezze dinner.

Lamb kebabs marinated in olive oil, lemon, garlic, and ground coriander, then broiled on bamboo skewers until charred at the edges and pink in the middle. A Middle Eastern grill night classic.

Garam masala lamb kebabs marinated in spiced yogurt with ginger, garlic, and fresh coriander, then grilled until charred and finished with a dusting of warm, toasted garam masala. Includes a from-scratch spice blend.

Alton Brown's homemade gyro meat: ground lamb processed to a paste with onion, garlic, and herbs, baked and pressed dense so it slices thin, served on pita with cool homemade tzatziki, tomato, and feta.

Butterflied leg of lamb marinated in olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, and fresh herbs, then roasted to a rosy medium-rare. The centerpiece of a Greek Easter table.

Fire up the barbecue and enjoy this succulent dish that you and your friends will be hooked on!

Mageritsa is the traditional Greek Easter lamb soup served after midnight Resurrection Mass. Lamb offal, rice, dill and scallions in a tart avgolemono broth thickened with egg and lemon.

A delicious summer standard at our place. Easy to make with a mix of Southern European and Middle Eastern flavours. I use my Cucumber Raita (posted separately) to dress the lamb salad or you can use the quick yoghurt dressing provided here.

Herb-roasted rack of lamb crusted with rosemary, thyme, and garlic, then carved into chops and served with a glossy red wine pan sauce. An elegant Easter and holiday roast that's far simpler than it looks.

Timen Ajami spiced meat skillet with ground beef or lamb, allspice, Madras curry powder, rosewater, dried currants, and chopped almonds. A fragrant Middle Eastern one-pan dish ready in 45 minutes.

Lamb and bulgur bake: a Middle Eastern-style kibbeh pie with layered ground lamb, bulgur, onion, and a pine nut stuffing. Crisp on top, juicy inside, sliced into wedges.

Middle Eastern-style lamb hand pies with pine nuts, mint, and lemon zest baked in biscuit dough. Served with a cool minted yogurt dipping sauce.

Crispy phyllo triangles stuffed with spiced lamb, raisins, pine nuts, and warm cinnamon-cumin-allspice. A Middle Eastern-inspired appetizer that bakes lighter than fried, perfect for parties.