Let these tender lamb bites with a creamy feta and thyme sauce melt in your mouth. Make ahead of time and have the perfect party appetizer ready to be served with a bottle of red wine.
Some party food is just a messy, long process that can make even the most experienced host stressed out – ending up taking the enjoyment out of the moment. But then there are those clever recipes that make you look like a star chef – but in reality hasn’t taken up too much of your time, or had you run in circles to get everything perfectly timed.
This is one of those latter recipes. It’s real simple, but it looks fancy and tastes absolutely divine. The lamb shoulder is on set-and-forget-mode for about four hours, and the puff pastry is store bought. The creamy feta spread is ultra easy to make. And you can prep the lamb, sauce and pastry squares way in advance, so you just have to pop the puff pastry in the oven – smear them with the sauce and top with lamb and some chopped thyme when your guests arrive. 
Step by Step Guide to Making Braised Lamb Bites with Feta Thyme Cream
For the Lamb
- Season lamb with salt and pepper.
- In a heavy braising pan, heat oil in skilled and sear lamb on all sides.
- Preheat oven to 325F.
- On the stove, add garlic, onion, thyme, carrots, and wine.
- Bring to a simmer, cover, and transfer to the oven.
- Cook until lamb is done and tender, about 2 hours.
- Once cooked, pull lamb with fork into bite-sized pieces.
Preparing Puff Pastry
- Roll out puff pastry and cut into small circles or squares.
- Brush with butter, oil, or egg wash and bake according to package directions.
- (Instead of puff pastry, crostini bread could also be used!)
How to Make the Feta Cream
- Stir together all ingredients, taste and adjust seasonings.
- Assemble pulled lamb on puff rounds and top with feta cream.
Braised Lamb Bites with Feta Thyme Cream
- Total Time: 150 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6
- Diet: Omnivore
Description
Tender lamb, creamy feta, and thyme combine in this elegant appetizer. Perfect for a party or a romantic dinner.
Ingredients
- 1-2 lbs (454-907 g) lamb shoulder/leg
- Salt
- Pepper
- Olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1 onion
- 2 tbsp Thyme
- 2 large carrots
- 1 tbsp peppercorns
- 2 cups (473 ml) Red wine
- 2 sheets Puff pastry
- Butter
- 1/2 cups (118 ml) Sour cream
- 1/2 cups (118 ml) Feta
- 1 tbsp Thyme
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 small clove Garlic
- 1 tsp Lemon Zest
Instructions
- Season lamb with salt and pepper.
- In a heavy braising pan, heat oil and sear lamb on all sides.
- Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
- On the stove, add garlic, onion, thyme, carrots, and wine. Bring to a simmer, cover, and transfer to the oven.
- Cook until lamb is done and tender, about 2 hours.
- Once cooked, pull lamb with a fork into bite-sized pieces.
- For the Puff Pastry:
- Roll out puff pastry and cut into small circles or squares.
- Brush with butter, oil, or egg wash and bake according to package directions.
- For the Feta Cream:
- Stir together all ingredients, taste and adjust seasonings.
- Assemble pulled lamb on puff pastry rounds and top with feta cream.
Notes
- For more intense lamb flavor, marinate the lamb for at least 4 hours before cooking.
- If you don’t have puff pastry, substitute small crackers or toasted baguette slices.
- The feta cream can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 120 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 lamb bites
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 20
- Cholesterol: 80
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know when the lamb is tender enough after braising?
The lamb is done when it can be easily pulled apart with a fork, which typically takes about 2 hours of cooking at 325°F.
Can I use a different type of wine for the braising process?
Yes, you can use any dry red wine that you enjoy drinking, as it will enhance the flavor of the lamb.
What should I do if my puff pastry is too cold to roll out?
Let the puff pastry sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes until it is pliable enough to roll out.
I really enjoyed making this, felt almost like making pulled pork, even if it wasnt a bbq recipe. The bites turned out extremely well, I actually just grilled up some sliced baguette instead of puff pastry, and it was delicious too.
really truly exactly what the article says. a great recipe for party food, so easy to prepare and getting rave reviews all around. thank you so much for a spectacular recipe.
This was a life saver. I wanted to make a lamb dish for my party this weekend, and it turned out so awesome. Pretty and delicious.
Looks divine, I am definitely saving for my next gathering.
I am a little nervous about puff pastry recipes in general, I always fear messing it up, but this was such an easy recipe to follow and the presence of store bought pastry instead of making it from scratch really helped. Delicious taste too!