Spicy lamb albondigas (meatballs)

Ingredients

For the albondigas

• 40g/1½oz thinly sliced crustless white bread
• 3 tbsp milk
• 125g/4½oz thinly sliced Serrano ham, finely chopped
• 600g/1lb 5oz lamb mince
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1½ tsp cumin seeds, freshly ground
• 1½ tsp coriander seeds, freshly ground
• ¾ tsp hot paprika
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh flatleaf parsley
• ¾ tsp salt
• ¾ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil, for frying

For the sauce

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 150g/5oz shallots, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• ½ tsp crushed dried chillies
• 800g/1lb 12oz vine-ripened tomatoes, peeled, chopped
• 200ml/7fl oz good quality fino sherry
• 200ml/7fl oz homemade chicken stock
• 2 bay leaves
• ½ tsp salt
• freshly ground black pepper

For the patatas fritas

• vegetable oil, for frying
• 3 large potatoes, peeled, very finely julienned
• salt

To serve

• handful chopped flat-leaf parsely
• extra virgin olive oil

Method

1. For the albondigas, soak the bread in the milk for five minutes, then squeeze out the excess milk.

2. Place the bread, ham, lamb mince, garlic, spices, parsley and seasoning into a bowl and mix until well combined.

3. Shape the mixture into approximately 40 meatballs (each weighing about 20g/¾oz).

4. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the meatballs for 4-5 minutes, or until golden-brown all over. (You may need to do this in batches.)

5. For the sauce, heat the olive oil a frying pan and fry the shallots, garlic and chilli for 8-10 minutes, or until softened.

6. Add the tomatoes, sherry, stock, bay leaves, salt and pepper and simmer gently, stirring now and then, for one hour, or until the sauce has reduced and thickened.

7. Add the meatballs and simmer gently for five minutes or until heated through. Discard the bay leaves.

8. Meanwhile, for the patatas fritas, heat a deep fat fryer to 120C/250F.

9. Cook the potatoes for two minutes, then remove them from the oil. Increase the temperature to 180C/350F and cook the potatoes for a further 4-5 minutes, or until pale golden-brown. Remove the patatas fritas from the fryer and set aside to drain on kitchen paper. Season with salt.

10. To serve, spoon the meatballs onto a plate, scatter with a little chopped parsley and drizzle with a little more olive oil. Serve with the patatas fritas.