Moroccan Meatball And Lentil Bake With Company Recipes

MOROCCAN MEATBALL AND LENTIL BAKE WITH COMPANY!

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4.
• MEATBALLS:.
• Mix the garlic, cumin, coriander and cinnamon, salt & pepper together.
• Break up any lumps in the minced beef and add the spices, finely diced onion and the beaten egg.
• Mix together well, using your hands.
• Shape into balls the size of a walnut - you should get about 32 to 36 meatballs.
• Roll them into the flour and heat up the olive oil in a large frying pan.
• Fry them in batches - do not overcrowd the pan - fry until golden brown, are firm & keeping their shape.
• Put the meatballs to one side.
• LENTILS:.
• Heat up the olive oil in the same frying pan as the meatballs were cooked inches.
• Fry the garlic and onion over a low heat until translucent & golden but not brown.
• Add the spices and then the lentils and stir them around to get a good coating of the oil.
• Add the tinned tomatoes, vegetable stock, cinnamon stick & the dried apricots.
• Give them all a good stir and cook over a low heat for about 2 minutes.
• Pour the lentils into a large ovenproof dish and place the meatballs on top. Scatter the cherry tomatoes around the meatballs.(They look good if kept on the vine).
• Cover and cook for about 1 hr, or until the sauce has thickened.
• Take the cover off for the last 10-15 minutes and allow the meatballs & cherry tomatoes to brown.
• Remove the cinnamon stick before serving.
• Whilst the meatball & lentil bake is cooking, prepare and cook the vegetable accompaniment.
• Take a large wok and heat up the olive oil.
• Add the fennel bulb, onions & carrots and stir well.
• Add the brown sugar, stir well & turn up the heat. Cook the vegetables until they are tinged brown on the edges and the sugar has completely dissolved.
• Turn the heat down and add the vegetable stock, cover the wok and cook for about 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender but still holding their shape.
• Add the orange juice and mix well, cook without a lid for a further 5 minutes.
• Pour into a serving dish & garnish with grated orange zest, fennel seeds and some of the green fronds from the fennel.
• Serve alongside the meatball and lentil bake.
• Garnish the meatball & lentil bake with some of the green fronds from the fennel bulbs.
• Flatbreads, rice or couscous would also be good accompaniments, if needed, for this meal.

MOROCCAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• For the spicy tomato sauce:.
• In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat, then add the onions. Saute until soft and fragrant. Add the garlic and harissa and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and bring to a boil. Stir in the broth and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then simmer the sauce for 10 minutes before finishing with the parsley.
• For the meatballs:.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, onions egg, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, curry powder and dried oregano. Shape the mixture into 35 meatballs.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add half of the meatballs and brown on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to a plate and repeat with the remaining olive oil and meatballs. Serve warm with the spicy tomato sauce.
• Serving suggestion:.
• Israeli couscous, rice or pita bread with yogurt sauce.
• Cook's Notes:.
• Instructions for freezing:.
• After forming and browning the meatballs, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and put into the freezer overnight. In the morning, remove the sheet tray, place the meatballs in a re-sealable plastic bag and return to the freezer until ready to use.
• Instructions for reheating:.
• Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Remove the meatballs from the freezer and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until the meatballs have cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes.