Adventures in eating: Spicy Lamb Patties

I finally got the Baby Led Weaning cookbook and was so excited to try it!  I love that it has recipes for the whole family so I don't have to make separate meals (and it has gotten me to start cooking again).

I went through the whole book and marked a few recipes to start off with.

First up was Spicy Lamb Patties.  An adventurous choice seeing as how we don't eat lamb very much and the "spicy" made me a little nervous with a little eater.

Here's the recipe (courtesy of the BLW cookbook)

Spicy Lamb Patties

Serves 2 adults and 1 baby (we stretched this to two meals)

• 12-15 cardamom pods (we had ground cardamom or something similar that we used)
• 8 cloves (we had ground clove)
• 1 pound lean ground lamb
• 1 3/4 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated or finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons thick (Greek) yogurt
• oil for frying (optional)

*If using cardamom pods: use a knife to split open the pods and put the seeds into a mortar with the cloves (discard pods). Grind to a powder. Or use a spice grinder

*We used 1/2-1 teaspoon of cardamom powder and 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves

Transfer the powder to a large bowl and add all the remaining ingredients except the egg, yogurt, and oil.  Mix well.  Add the egg and yogurt and mix thoroughly, so that everything is bound together.

Shape the mixture into small patties (flouring or wetting your hands will help to keep from sticking).  Make sure they are all roughly the same thickness.  If time, cover and refrigerate them for up to an hour.

Heat a frying pan, add a little oil if needed.  Fry the patties for 5-10 minutes on each side until cooked through and browned.

Serve warm with salad, couscous and roasted veggies, or rice. 
We chose sweet potato fries and salad.

Recipe in Pictures:

Spices, ginger, and lamb.  Add bread crumbs and mix.

 Mix together and add greek yogurt and egg.

 Always have your sous chef on hand :)

  Form into 8 small patties.  Place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.  Then cook in pan with olive oil on medium heat.

 Cut two sweet potatoes into strips.  Place on oiled baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
Roast at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.  (turn over halfway through at 20 minutes using a spatula)

 (can add salt to Mom and Dad's half)


Charlee's dinner:

• 1 lamb patty
• half of a string cheese (cut in half)
• sweet potato fries (no salt)

 Mom and Dad's dinner:
2 patties and arugula salad

 She likes it!