Tangy Lemon-Egg Soup with Tiny Meatballs

1. In a large saucepan, cover the rice with the water, season with salt and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat until the rice is tender and the water is nearly absorbed, about 15 minutes. Transfer 1/2 cup of the rice to a blender and spread the remaining rice on a plate.
2. Add the chicken stock to the saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add 1 cup of the hot stock to the blender, cover and puree until the rice is smooth. With the machine on, add the egg yolks and lemon juice and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Stir the mixture into the stock and keep warm over low heat.
3. In a medium bowl, mix the lamb with the onion, mint, 2 tablespoons of the dill, 1/4 teaspoon of the lemon zest, 2 teaspoons of kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Form the mixture into 1-inch balls.
4. Lightly dust the meatballs with flour, tapping off any excess, and drop them into the warm soup. Increase the heat to moderate and simmer until the meatballs are cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the reserved rice and the remaining 1 tablespoon of dill and 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and season with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with dill sprigs and serve.

Yield: 4 servings