Easy Lamb Meatballs & Saffron Cauliflower Rice

These Easy Lamb Meatballs over Saffron Cauliflower Rice only require 10 minutes prep time and cook in one pan, making this low-carb, keto, Paleo and Whole30 compliant Mediterranean-inspired recipe a great weeknight option!

There's a Mediterranean restaurant near us with food that is absolute perfection. It's not fancy or expensive, but their menu includes all of the traditional foods you'd expect to find at a Mediterranean restaurant, and their use of herbs and spices is exquisite! Of course, as an avid cook and food blogger, eating at this Mediterranean restaurant makes me wonder what herbs and spices they use and how I can recreate their recipes. Their food inspires me so much that I've considered recreating their flavors the litmus test of "making it" as a cook.

Let's just say I'm pretty proud of myself because these Lamb Meatballs over Saffron Cauliflower Rice come pretty darn close! The herbs and spices in the lamb meatballs create a beautiful melody that is perfectly complemented by the saffron cauliflower rice, which gets lots of flavor from the fat that renders out of the meatballs while roasting. It's a match made in Heaven, if I do say so myself! But not only are the flavors in this dish da bomb, you only need one pan for this recipe, making it super easy!

Health Benefits & Nutrition Info

These lamb meatballs over saffron cauliflower rice aren't just easy, they're a healthier version of the food at my local Mediterranean restaurant. Cauliflower rice in lieu of regular rice makes this recipe low-carb, Paleo, Whole30 and keto-compliant and provides fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, B6, folate and choline as well as sulforaphane, isothiocyanates, and glucosinolates, antioxidants in cruciferous vegetables that may help to fight cancer, balance hormones and keep the heart healthy (source).  Lamb is a great source of vitamin B12 and B3 (niacin) and the minerals selenium, zinc and phosphorus, nutrients which are used for everything from making strong bones to protecting the body from free radical damage. Lamb is also considered an allergy-friendly protein and can be a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and CLA (conjugated lineleic acid) when the lamb is grass-fed (source).

Don't forget about the herbs and spices! Paprika is rich in antioxidants, particularly carotenoids, and coriander seed and cumin both are great for digestive health, as coriander has antibacterial properties that help to prevent food poisoning and cumin encourages the secretion of pancreatic enzymes, helping to reduce gas and bloating (source).

The result is Easy Lamb Meatballs over Saffron Cauliflower Rice that is full of flavor and nutritious ingredients but free from gluten, dairy, grains, eggs and nuts, making this recipe allergy-friendly, low-carb, Paleo, keto and Whole30 compliant!

Tips, Tools & Ingredients

These Easy Lamb Meatballs over Saffron Cauliflower Rice are so easy that it only requires 10 minutes prep time and one pan, but I've provided a few tips below that will make this recipe even easier.

Links to products are included below as part of this section. Some of them are affiliate links, which means that I may receive a small commission if you purchase a product through one of my links. Don’t worry, it doesn’t change the price you pay. Thank you for supporting Taste Abounds!

You'll see in the video below how easy it is to measure and form meatballs with a cookie scoop! My cookie scoop has a 1 ½ inch diameter and only cost $12 on Amazon (it also comes in handy to make my Double Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Seed Cookies)!

I use frozen cauliflower rice to make this recipe, but you could also use freshly riced cauliflower. Costco has a great price on both fresh and frozen cauliflower rice, but I've also seen cauliflower rice at both health food stores like Trader Joe's and traditional supermarkets like King Soopers (Kroger) and Walmart. Of course, you could also rice your own cauliflower, I just prefer to skip that step!

Easy Lamb Meatballs over Saffron Cauliflower Rice

Here's a video showing you how easy it is to make these Easy Lamb Meatballs over Saffron Cauliflower Rice. After watching it, keep scrolling down for the recipe. Enjoy!

5 from 14 votes

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Easy Lamb Meatballs over Saffron Cauliflower Rice

These Easy Lamb Meatballs over Saffron Cauliflower Rice only require 10 minutes prep time and cook in one pan, making this low-carb, keto, Paleo and Whole30 compliant Mediterranean-inspired recipe a great weeknight option!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mediterranean

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 427 kcal

Author Laura Duffy

Ingredients

Lamb Meatball Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground lamb
• ¼ cup sweet onion, finely chopped
• 1 tsp Chili powder
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 1 tsp Coriander
• 2 tsp Cumin
• ½ tsp Garlic powder
• ½ tsp oregano
• ¾ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp Marjoram
• ¼ tsp Thyme
• ¼ tsp allspice

Cauliflower Rice Ingredients:

• 1 lb frozen cauliflower rice
• ¼ cup Sweet onion, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp avocado oil
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2 pinches Saffron threads + ¼ cup hot water

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Farenheit.

2. Place the saffron threads in a small bowl with ¼ cup hot water. Let soak for 5 minutes to open up the flavor.
3. Mix all spices together before adding ground lamb and onion. Use hands to mix well. Roll into meatballs and set aside.
4. Place the cauliflower rice in a baking dish. Add the onion, salt, avocado oil and saffron in water and toss to combine.
5. Arrange the meatballs over the cauliflower rice and roast at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

6. After cooking, remove the meatballs and stir to combine with the fat and juices that rendered out of the lamb meatballs into the cauliflower rice.

7. Serve with a scoop of cauliflower rice on bottom and meatballs on top. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Easy Lamb Meatballs over Saffron Cauliflower Rice

Amount Per Serving

Calories 427 Calories from Fat 306

% Daily Value*

Fat 34g52%

Saturated Fat 12g75%

Cholesterol 82mg27%

Sodium 696mg30%

Potassium 664mg19%

Carbohydrates 9g3%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 21g42%

Vitamin A 495IU10%

Vitamin C 57mg69%

Calcium 52mg5%

Iron 3.2mg18%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Disclosure: this post includes affiliate links for convenience. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.