Middle Eastern meatballs with baba ghanoush

These very versatile meatballs can be served pre-dinner on a skewer or as a meal. Try tossing them into a spaghetti and tomato sauce or stuff them into pita with a good coleslaw. To prevent the meat sticking to your hands when rolling the meatballs, dampen your hands to make the job much easier. Get this done ahead of time, then whip them out and cook just before serving.

Ingredients

1	Eggplant
500 g	Lamb mince
1	Small onion, chopped roughly
2 cloves	Garlic, chopped
2 tsp	Ground cumin
1 tsp	Ground allspice
1 pinch	Cayenne pepper
¼ tsp	Salt
½ cup	Chopped coriander

Baba ghanoush

1 clove	Garlic
2 Tbsp	Lemon juice
2 Tbsp	Olive oil
½ cup	Chopped Italian parsley
1 tsp	Salt and freshly ground black pepper

To serve

½ cup	Yoghurt
¼ cup	Chopped coriander
6 pieces	Pita breads, or flatbread

Directions

1. On a gas element, char the eggplant, turning slowly until roasted through. Alternatively, bake in the oven for 25 minutes. Set aside to cool.
2. To make the meatballs, into a kitchen processor place the mince, onion, garlic, cumin, allspice, cayenne, salt and coriander blitzing until well combined. Roll into walnut-sized balls.
3. To cook the balls, heat a frying pan to a medium heat. Brown the balls all over and place on a baking tray. Finish in the oven for 10 minutes just before serving.
4. Scoop the inside of the eggplant into the kitchen processor. Add the garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, salt and pepper to taste and whizz.
5. To serve, spread the baba ghanoush on a plate. Top with meatballs and a dollop of yoghurt. Scoop on to a warmed flatbread, wrap and enjoy.