WINE & FOOD AFFAIR RECIPES

Main Dish


Braised Keftedes (Lamb Meatballs) with Cabernet Franc Sauce

Merriam Vineyards

11650 Los Amigos Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
merriamvineyards.com

Chef Kristina Daya creates dishes while sourcing from local vendors, as she believes the relationship she creates with the farmers is essential to her overall vision. Diana Merriam is from Greek heritage, and this carries through in all of her cooking and entertaining as well.

Keftedes (Lamb Meatballs)

Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Directions:
To prepare the keftedes, in a large bowl, combine the ground lamb, onion, rosemary and garlic. Add 2 large pinches of salt and 2 cranks of freshly ground pepper. Mix all of the ingredients together. Shape the meat mixture into 6 meatballs, each about 4 ounces.

Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the keftedes and brown on all sides. Transfer to a plate.

Cabernet Franc Reduction Sauce

Ingredients:
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1/4 cup diced yellow onion
  • 1 carrot, diced
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup Merriam Vineyards Cabernet Franc
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 fresh rosemary sprig
  • 1 cup chicken stock, plus more as needed
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley for garnish
Directions:
To prepare the sauce, in the same pan used for the keftedes, warm the olive oil. Add the onion, carrot and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are slightly softened and the onion starts to become translucent. Add the wine and simmer until reduced to one-third. Stir in the tomato paste, incorporating it well. Add the thyme, rosemary and stock and bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and slowly stir in the butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 

Add the keftedes to the pan, cover and simmer over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little more stock.

Transfer the keftedes to a serving bowl. Strain the sauce, discarding the solids, then drizzle the sauce over the keftedes. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and parsley and serve.

Merriam Vineyards

11650 Los Amigos Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
merriamvineyards.com