Did you know that the old-fashioned home-cooked meal tradition is expected to become a thing of the past? A recent study found that 57% of American food budgets were spent on food prepared away from home.
For us who love cooking meals from scratch, a new recipe is a blessing wrapped in possibility. To work your brushstrokes of flavor, here’s a recipe that arrives as a warm embrace at the end of a long and tiring day.
Lamb meatballs cooked in a spicy Moroccan-style tomato sauce can offer comfort and satisfaction that will linger long after the last bite. Ready to try your hand? Keep reading, and you’ll have your drool mode activated by the end.
Recipe Overview
If there is a recipe that celebrates the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors well, it’s this one. The fragrant spices, the tomato base, and the tender meatballs together highlight the recipe’s rich Moroccan and Turkish origins.
There is also a hint of Greek cuisine in there, as evident from the flavorful herbs and creamy tomato sauce. You can enjoy this meal either for lunch or dinner. It’s filling and hearty enough to make for a satisfying main course.
On days you’re craving something deeply nourishing, just prepare this dish along with delicious sides like mashed potatoes, warm bread, or rice. The best time to prepare lamb meatballs in a spiced tomato sauce would be the cooler months.
After all, its flavor profile is such that the lamb’s richness balances with the zesty heat of chilies and the earthiness of the herbs/spices. You can make it your go-to choice for weekend dinners, festive gatherings, and any special occasions.
This dish is not only flavorful but also healthy. For instance, lamb is high in protein, zinc, iron, and Vitamin B12. Similarly, tomato sauce may be rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
The only two risks are often the high sodium and sugar content of commercial sauce packages. That shouldn’t be a problem because this recipe’s tomato sauce will be spicy, tasty, but oh-so-healthy!
What You Need
Supplies
To begin, this recipe is predominantly a pan-based dish, which means you should have a good-quality skillet or frying pan. It should be at least 10 or 12 inches in diameter.
Those who are health-conscious should particularly pay attention to the pan’s material. One of the common options people choose is a non-stick pan because it’s easier to use and clean.
However, these benefits usually come at a high price, given how dangerous non-stick coatings can be. To give more perspective, such cookware is often coated with chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The same chemicals have become central to litigation due to their use in manufacturing Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF). Under the AFFF lawsuit, Navy veterans and firefighters have alleged that they developed cancer and ulcerative colitis due to prolonged exposure.
As for non-stick pans, the original substance used to make Teflon is no longer marketed in the US. However, Teflon is still prepared using other PFAS that could be equally hazardous to health.
Since PFAS are a group of over 10,000 chemicals (most of which are unstudied), it’s not worth taking a risk. Opt for healthier options like a pan made of stainless steel or a heavy-bottom cast iron skillet.
The latter would be desirable from the viewpoint of health and practicality. However, choose stainless steel for this recipe because the tomatoes’ acidity will react with iron and impart a metallic flavor to the sauce.
Besides that, you may need the following –
- A large mixing bowl
- A saucepan
- A baking dish (in case you wish to bake the meatballs to amp up the health quotient)
- Measuring spoons and cups
Ingredients
Spice mix
- 3 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon, coriander, ginger, and paprika
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp hot chilli flakes
- 1 tsp allspice mix
For the meatballs
- 400 grams of minced lamb meat
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4th tsp black pepper powder
For the tomato sauce
- 200 ml of water
- 400 grams chopped tinned tomatoes
- 6-7 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1 large onion (preferably red), roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp tomato puree
- 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
- 1-2 tsp sweetener (healthy options include stevia, pomegranate molasses, or honey)
To serve (optional)
- Chilli flakes or Aleppo pepper
- Plain yogurt
- Chopped mint or coriander leaves
Instructions
Let’s jump right into the part you’ve eagerly been waiting for –
- In a small container, add all the spices, mix them, and set them aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the minced lamb meat along with one-third of the spice mix, salt, and pepper (as required).
- Using your hands, mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Then, roll the mixture into smooth, walnut-sized balls.
- Now, heat oil in your stainless steel frying pan. Once the oil is hot, add the meatballs and fry them until golden brown.
- Alternatively, you can bake the meatballs for 12 to 15 minutes in an oven preheated to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once all the meatballs are cooked, transfer them to a plate.
- Reduce the pan’s heat to medium-low. In the leftover oil, add chopped onions and garlic.
- Season sparingly with salt and a generous grind of black pepper. Cook until the onions begin to soften.
- Stir in the remaining two-thirds of the spice mix and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the tinned tomatoes, tomato puree, and water.
- Add in the sweetener of your choice along with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bring the sauce to a boil, then let it simmer for about 10 minutes without a lid.
- Now, add the meatballs and stir them through the sauce.
- Put on the pan’s lid and let the sauce simmer for another 10 minutes. Keep checking to avoid overcooking the meatballs.
- Take the pan off the heat. Taste to check the seasonings and then stir in chopped coriander leaves.
- You can serve it hot with a side of rice or mashed potatoes. Try the optional yogurt, Aleppo pepper, or more coriander on top for enhanced flavors.
While this recipe tastes great as it is, you can try adding a pinch of saffron threads soaked for a few minutes in warm water. Add the liquid at the same time you add the tomatoes for an even more authentic Moroccan taste.
On a final note, this recipe can be enjoyed by most non-vegetarians. However, it’s better to consider your dietary restrictions in terms of spice tolerance. Those with spice sensitivity may experience symptoms of acid reflux. Such folks can modify the recipe a bit: avoid garlic, use low-acid tomatoes, or reduce the spices.
Enjoy this wholesome dish with your family, particularly on tiring days, to make everyone look forward to dinner. If you’re afraid, you might be too tired to cook from scratch, just prep the meatballs in advance. Put them in the freezer and pull them out the day you wish to make this finger-licking meal.
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