Brown First or Drop In? Best way to get ground lamb to "integrate" into a stew?

[Johnny_L.A]

Chefguy’s lamb balls

@Chefguy

1 pound ground lamb
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 TBSP minced onion
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 TBSP ground coriander
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp ground mustard
1/4 tsp pepper
salt

And ya mix 'em all tagedda. We ended up having couscous instead of avocado.

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I usually just form them into turd-sized lumps by squeezing them in my fist. Then fry them up in a bit of oil and serve with saffron rice sprinkled with toasted almonds. Skewered would be good, also.