Turkish Grilled Lamb Köfte with Charred Eggplant & Herbed Couscous Pilaf

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 lbs ground lamb, 85/15 lean
• 1/4 cup fresh mint, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1/2 medium red onion, minced
• 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp sumac, optional but recommended
• 3/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 whole large eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch rounds
• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat couscous, dry
• 2 1/4 cups vegetable broth, low-sodium
• 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
• 1/4 cup dried apricots, chopped
• 1 whole lemon, for zest and juice

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat grill to medium-high heat (400°F). If using oven, preheat to 425°F.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, combine ground lamb, mint, parsley, red onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, sumac, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with hands until just combined, do not overwork.