Spiced Lamb and Cucumber Bites

These Spiced Lamb and Cucumber Bites are one of my favorite elevated appetizers to serve when I want to impress guests without spending all day in the kitchen. The warm spices in the lamb paired with cool creamy yogurt and fresh cucumber is such a perfect combination. I started making these for dinner parties in Kansas City and they have become one of my most requested recipes.

Why You’ll Love This

• Sophisticated flavors that feel truly restaurant-worthy
• The contrast of warm spiced lamb and cool cucumber is incredible
• Great make-ahead option for entertaining
• Naturally gluten-free and high in protein

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground lamb
• 1 large cucumber, sliced into rounds
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon coriander
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Fresh mint leaves
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make It

1. Season ground lamb with cumin, coriander, garlic, salt, and pepper.
2. Cook in a skillet over medium-high heat 8-10 minutes, breaking up as it cooks.
3. Mix Greek yogurt with a squeeze of lemon, salt, and chopped mint.
4. Arrange cucumber rounds on a platter.
5. Top each cucumber slice with a spoonful of yogurt and a portion of spiced lamb.
6. Garnish with fresh mint and a drizzle of lemon juice.

A good stainless skillet gives you that perfect browning on the lamb, and a pretty serving platter makes the presentation shine.

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Spiced Lamb and Cucumber Bites

Warm spiced ground lamb spooned onto cool cucumber rounds with mint yogurt.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: middle eastern

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1/2 lb ground lamb
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 English cucumbers, sliced into rounds
• 3/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Method

 

1. Brown the ground lamb in a skillet, breaking it up, until cooked through.
2. Add the cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and garlic and cook until fragrant. Season with salt.
3. Stir the yogurt with mint and lemon juice.
4. Top each cucumber round with a spoonful of yogurt, then the warm spiced lamb.
5. Garnish with extra mint and serve right away.

Notes

Drain any excess fat from the lamb so the bites are not greasy. Ground beef works as a substitute.