Cajun Lamb Meatballs with White Beans
Photography by Aaron McLean.
Serve these tender, rustic one-pot meatballs with lots of crusty bread for mopping up the juices and a fresh green salad. Some Cajun spice mixes are very fiery, so add according to taste.
Serves: 4–6
INGREDIENTS
Meatballs
500 grams lamb mince
1 egg
1 cup fresh white breadcrumbs
1-2 teaspoons Cajun spice mix
2 tablespoons finely chopped coriander
1 teaspoon sea salt
Sauce
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
½-1 teaspoon Cajun spice mix
1 x 400 gram tin whole cherry tomatoes
2 x 400 gram tins cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup chicken stock
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
METHOD
Meatballs: Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and season with salt. Roll into walnut-sized balls. Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large sauté pan and brown the meatballs. Transfer to a plate and set aside. The meatballs won’t be fully cooked. Don’t rinse the pan.
Sauce: Add the onion, celery, garlic and spice mix to the same pan and cook until soft, adding a splash of water if needed. Stir in the tomatoes and cannellini beans.
Add the stock then nestle in the meatballs. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes until the meatballs are cooked through.

Keep up to date with
dish weekly recipes,
food news, and events.
latest issue:
Issue #120
As the days become shorter, and the nights cooler, the latest issue is perfectly timed to deliver delicious autumn dishes. From recipes using fresh seasonal produce such as feijoas and apples, to spectacular soothing soups and super-quick after-work meals in our Food Fast section, we’ve got you covered. With Easter on the horizon, we feature recipes that will see you through breakfast, lunch and dinner over a leisurely weekend holiday, and whip up chocolatey baking treats sure to please. We round up delicious dinners for two and showcase a hot new Korean cookbook before heading south to Dunedin to check out all that’s new in food and dining.The latest issue of dish is on sale NOW at all good bookstores and supermarkets – don’t miss it!