Moroccan Sardine Meatball Tajine Food

MOROCCAN SARDINE MEATBALL TAJINE

Steps:

• Before you start cooking it's easiest to make the meatball mix first. You will want to ensure the sardines are as clean as possible; removing all bones and skin. It's a bit easier to do this if you use larger fresh sardines. See the notes section on how to use tinned sardines instead. After the fish has been cleaned, add the meat, garlic, cumin, paprika, parsley, cilantro and lemon juice to a food processor. Turn on low power to combine all of the ingredients until it's the consistency of a paste. If you are using the rice, mix it in at this point with a spoon. Make the sardine paste into meatballs the size you'd like; typically they are slightly smaller than a golf ball. In the bottom of a tajine or in a skillet add the olive oil, garlic, and grated tomato flesh. Heat until it begins to bubble and add the remaining ingredients. Allow to cook on low heat. Add the meatballs to the tomato sauce and cover the tajine or skillet. Allow to cook for 30-45 minutes on low heat until the meatballs are cooked all the way through. Serve hot with bread for scooping up the dish. You can also prepare a roast green pepper (either bell pepper or hot pepper), remove the blackened part of the skin and then cut into thin ribbons to places on top of the sardines for an added flavor.

MOROCCAN MEATBALL TAGINE WITH LEMON & OLIVES

Steps:

• Put the onions in a food processor and blitz until finely chopped. Put the lamb, lemon zest, spices, parsley and half the onions in a large bowl, and season. Using your hands, mix until well combined, then shape into walnut-sized balls.
• Heat the oil in a large flameproof dish, or tagine with a lid, then add the remaining onions, ginger, chilli and saffron. Cook for 5 mins until the onion is softened and starting to colour. Add the lemon juice, stock, tomato purée and olives, then bring to the boil. Add the meatballs, one at a time, then reduce the heat, cover with the lid and cook for 20 mins, turning the meatballs a couple of times.
• Remove lid, then add the coriander and lemon wedges, tucking them in between the meatballs. Cook, uncovered, for a further 10 mins until the liquid has reduced and thickened slightly. Serve hot with couscous or fresh crusty bread.

MOROCCAN MEATBALLS -- TAGINE KEFTA

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients for the sauce together in the tagine, cover and let simmer gently over a medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, use your hands to mix the ingredients for the meatballs together and then roll the meat into small balls, about 1 inch round.
• After the tomatoes have simmered for about 15 minutes, stir the sauce and add a little water if you feel it is needed.
• Place the meatballs in the sauce.
• Do not stir but just let them sit on top of the sauce.
• Lower the heat, cover and cook for another 8-10 minutes. Uncover and let simmer another couple minutes if you feel the sauce needs thickening.
• Serve with lots of crusty bread for dipping in the sauce or over spaghetti with parmesan cheese on top.
• If you want to make these ahead of time and freeze them, leave the parsley out and place the meatballs in a rigid container like a tupperware dish before freezing.
• To reheat, thaw in the fridge (you can do this overnight) and reheat on the stovetop over medium-low until bubbly. Add chopped parsley before serving.

KEFTA TAJINE (MOROCCAN SPICED MEATBALLS W/ EGGS IN TOMATO SAUCE)

Steps:

• Use your hands to mix the meatball ingredients, and roll mixture into mini meatballs 3/4"-1" in diameter; set aside.
• In a skillet or tajine combine sauce ingredients and let mixture simmer, covered, over low heat for 5 minutes.
• Add meatballs, squash, and peas to the sauce and simmer, covered, over medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
• Pour the eggs in in a stream over everything.
• Cover and cook just long enough to cook the egg (about 3 minutes, depending on how well done you like your eggs).
• Serve warm over couscous, sprinkled with cumin or black pepper if desired.

MOROCCAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a small nonstick frypan, heat oil over medium heat.
• Saute onion and garlic for 3 minutes or until browned.
• In a medium bowl, combine ground lamb, couscous, egg, parsley, turmeric, cinnamon and ginger.
• Add sauteed onion and garlic.
• Mix well, form into 1 and 1/2 inch meatballs.
• Place on a prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, turning after 15 minutes, until browned on all sides and no longer pink.

MOROCCAN EGG AND MEATBALL TAGINE

Steps:

• For the meatballs:.
• Combine the ground chuck, olive oil, onions, paprika and some salt and pepper together. Roll into 1-inch balls and set aside until needed.
• For the sauce:.
• Saute the garlic and onions with the extra-virgin olive oil on low heat in a medium Dutch oven or deep cast-iron pot. Cook until slightly translucent, and then add the cilantro, paprika, cumin and season with salt and pepper. Saute for an additional 2 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes and cook on medium heat. Let the tomatoes break down for 10 to 15 minutes. Place the meatballs on top of the sauce and cook for 5 minutes. Stir the meatballs into the sauce and cook for 30 minutes on low heat. Break the eggs on top of the meat and sauce. Gently stir to break the eggs up into the meat and sauce. Cook for another 5 minutes and serve immediately with pita or any fresh bread on hand.
• Cook's Note:.
• *Skins remove easily by dipping the tomatoes in boiling water until the skin cracks and then immediately placing in ice cold water.