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Slow-Cooker Suya Spice Lamb Meatballs

Experience a taste of authentic Nigerian cuisine with our Slow-Cooker Lamb Meatballs. While this dish requires a slow cooker, it will quickly become a new favorite. Its delicious unique flavors are inspired by a complex and spicy meat kabob known as suya, a highly popular street food in the West African community. One of the largest West African ethnic groups, the Hausa, is credited for suya’s origins.

Our lamb meatball recipe features the Suya Spice Blend, a bold blend containing ground almonds as its base to balance the heat of the blend from cayenne pepper and the aromatic warmth from various spices like cinnamon, cloves, and coriander. If you prefer other meats to lamb, you can customize this recipe by substituting lamb for ground chicken or beef for an equally delicious creation. However you decide to try your hand at this dish, it will undoubtedly become a new favorite for the whole family to enjoy with endless ways to serve.

Curious Spoon Culinary Team
Difficulty:
Moderate
Prep Time:
15 minutes
Cook Time:
3 hours 0 minutes
Total Time:
3 minutes

Ingredients

Yield 4
  • 2 tbsp. Vegetable Oil
  • 1 small Onion, finely chopped
  • 4 tsp. Garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 lb. ground Lamb
  • 1 tbsp. Parsley, finely chopped
  • 4 -1/2 tbsp. Curious Spoon Suya Spice Blend, divided
  • 2 tsp. Kosher Salt, divided
  • 1 tsp. ground Black Pepper
  • 1-1/2 cup Beef Stock
  • 1/2 cup Tomato Sauce
  • 1 tbsp. Cornstarch
  • 3 tbsp. Water

From the Kitchen

• Large Skillet
• Large Mixing Bowl
• Slow Cooker
• Medium Saucepan
• Small bowl

Notes from the Chef:

While lamb is used in this recipe, ground chicken or beef will also work well. The options are ultimately up to you!

Make it a meal:
Serve hot with couscous, rice, or warmed bread.
Pairs well with:
Pairs with a Hibiscus Earl-Grey Iced tea
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Directions:
  1. 1

    Prep all ingredients.

  2. 2

    Heat 1 tbsp. vegetables oil to medium heat in a large skillet. Add onions and garlic, lower heat, and sauté for 3 minutes. Remove from pan, adding half to mixing bowl and reserving half for later.

  3. 3

    Add ground lamb, parsley, and 1-1/2 tbsp. Curious Spoon Suya Spice Blend, 1 tsp. salt, and pepper to mixing bowl with onions and garlic. Mix well then form into 1-inch round meatballs.

  4. 4

    Heat 1 tbsp. vegetable oil to medium heat in a large skillet. Brown meatballs, rotating them to sear on all sides.

  5. 5

    Place meatballs in slow cooker with reserved onions and garlic. Add 3 tbsp. Curious Spoon Suya Spice Blend , beef stock, tomato sauce, and 1 tsp. salt. Set slow cooker to high and cook for 2-1/2 hours, covered, until meatballs are cooked through, and flavors have developed.

  6. 6

    Combine water and cornstarch in small bowl to make a slurry. Remove meatballs from sauce and set aside. Pour sauce from slow cooker into medium saucepan. Heat sauce to low simmer and whisk in half of the cornstarch slurry. Continue to simmer and add cornstarch until sauce is thickened to desired consistency.

  7. 7

    Add meatballs back in, season to taste with salt, pepper, and an additional pinch of Curious Spoon Suya Spice blend.