Crispy Butcher's Nuggets

Season the lamb shanks all over with salt and pepper.

Recipe Summary Crispy Butcher's Nuggets

These crispy fried meatballs are traditionally made by grinding up the leftover trimmings from a butcher shop, and while our version won't have the same diversity of meats, at least we'll know for sure what's in it. At Fern Bar in Sebastopol, where I stole the idea, they'll switch up the ingredients depending on what's around, as well as change the sauce underneath. Garnish these nuggets with pickled vegetables and olives.

Ingredients | Easy Lamb Mince Recipes

3 tablespoons panko bread crumbs

1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

1 teaspoon finely minced fresh rosemary

1 clove garlic, crushed

¼ cup milk

1 dash Worcestershire sauce

½ pound ground lamb

½ pound ground beef

1 cup all-purpose flour, or as needed

2 large eggs, beaten

1 cup panko bread crumbs, or as needed

¼ cup mayonnaise

¼ cup yellow mustard

¼ cup ketchup

½ teaspoon chipotle chile powder

vegetable oil for frying

Directions

Combine 3 tablespoons bread crumbs, kosher salt, black pepper, cayenne, rosemary, garlic, milk, and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl. Mix to create a slurry. Let sit for 15 minutes to hydrate bread crumbs.

Mix ground lamb and ground beef together gently in another bowl using 2 forks. Mix in bread crumb slurry using the same 2-fork method until just combined. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Place flour, eggs, and bread crumbs in 3 separate shallow dishes. Portion out nuggets using a 1 1/2-tablespoon scoop. Roll nuggets in flour; shake off excess. Dip into beaten eggs using your free hand, shaking off excess between fingers. Transfer to bread crumbs and coat with your dry hand, pressing gently to make sure surface is covered. Sprinkle leftover bread crumbs over a plate and add the nuggets. Refrigerate, uncovered, for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, combine mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, and chipotle powder in a bowl for sauce. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Fry nuggets in the hot oil until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and let rest and finish cooking for 3 to 4 minutes before serving with sauce.

If you don't have a deep-fryer, feel free to flatten these into semi-patties and pan-fry them in about 1/2 inch of oil.

I went with a fairly restrained combo of just beef and lamb, but that doesn't mean you can't be a little more adventurous. Using pork is an obvious choice, but I think chicken livers would be amazing in this. Above and beyond the meat choices, you also have lots of artistic freedom when it comes to the shape, and what dipping sauce you pair them with.

We have determined the nutritional value of oil for frying based on a retention value of 10% after cooking. Amount will vary depending on cooking time and temperature, ingredient density, and specific type of oil used.

Info | Easy Lamb Mince Recipes

prep: 30 mins cook: 5 mins additional: 1 hr 45 mins total: 2 hrs 20 mins Servings: 10 Yield: 18 nuggets

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