Moroccan Meatballs With Couscous And Roasted Carrots Recipes

NORTH AFRICAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Heat oil over medium-high heat in a wide, heavy bottomed saucepan. Add onion and cook without browning until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, tomato paste, cinnamon and saffron, and stir well to incorporate. Season generously with salt and pepper, and allow to sizzle for 1 minute more. Add broth and simmer gently for 5 minutes. May be made several hours in advance, up to a day.
• Make the meatballs: Put bread cubes and milk in a small bowl. Leave bread to soak until softened, about 5 minutes, then squeeze dry.
• In a mixing bowl, put squeezed-out bread, ground meat and egg. Add salt, pepper, garlic, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric, paprika, cayenne, cloves, coriander and cumin. Mix well with hands to distribute seasoning. Add 2 tablespoons each of parsley, cilantro and scallion, and knead for a minute. May be prepared several hours in advance, up to a day.
• With hands, roll mixture into small round balls about the size of a quarter. Dust balls lightly with flour. Heat a few tablespoons of oil, or a quarter-inch depth, over medium-high heat and fry meatballs until barely browned, about 2 minutes per side. Drain and blot on paper towel. Simmer meatballs in saffron-tomato sauce, covered, over medium heat for about 20 minutes, until tender.
• Meanwhile, make the couscous, if desired: Cook according to package directions, fluff gently and stir in butter and raisins. Season with salt and cinnamon, and toss well.
• Garnish meatballs with remaining parsley, cilantro and scallion. Serve with couscous and roasted tomatoes if desired.

MOROCCAN-SPICED ROASTED CARROTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Toss carrots in a bowl with olive oil, lemon juice, sugar, cumin, cinnamon, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Transfer to a large roasting pan and arrange in a single layer.
• Roast in the preheated oven, turning often, 20 to 30 minutes.

MOROCCAN MEATBALLS WITH COUSCOUS AND ROASTED CARROTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss carrots with 2 teaspoons oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast until tender and golden, 20 minutes, tossing halfway through.
• In a medium bowl, combine beef, spice mix, cinnamon, cilantro, minced white and green scallions, and egg; season with salt. With hands, gently mix to combine and form into 16 meatballs. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Cook meatballs until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes total. Add 1/4 cup water, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook until meatballs are just cooked through, 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high. Add sliced scallion whites and cook, stirring, until softened, 3 minutes. Add 1 cup water, cover, and bring to a boil. Stir in couscous and season with salt and pepper. Cover, remove pan from heat, and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork, and stir in almonds and sliced scallion greens. Serve meatballs and any pan juices with couscous, carrots, and lemon wedges.

MOROCCAN TURKEY MEATBALLS WITH CITRUS COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a big bowl, mix the mince, spices, onion and orange zest together really well with your hands. Roll the mixture into about 20 walnut-sized meatballs.
• Put the couscous in a bowl, pour over the hot chicken stock, cover with cling film and leave to stand for 10 mins.
• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan. add the meatballs and fry, turning often, for about 12 mins until browned all over and cooked through.
• Fluff the couscous up with a fork, stir in the chopped orange, coriander and some seasoning. Pile onto plates and serve with the meatballs.

SPEEDY MOROCCAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large deep frying pan, then fry the meatballs for 10 mins, turning occasionally until cooked through. Scoop out of the pan and set aside, then cook the onion for 5 mins, until softened.
• Add the dried apricots, cinnamon stick, tomatoes and half a can of water to the pan, then bring to the boil and simmer for 10 mins. Remove the cinnamon stick. Return the meatballs to the pan and coat well with the tomato sauce. Serve sprinkled with the almonds and coriander.

MOROCCAN MEATBALLS & COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Combine lamb, onion, harissa and flat leaf parsley and season, roll into golf ball sized meatballs and fry off in medium hot pan until coloured.
• In a heavy based pan, fry the onion, garlic and ginger until softened, add the spices and cook for 1-2 minutes
• Add the tomatoes and apricots, then add the meatballs, top up with the stock and cover with a lid and cook for 30 minutes After 20 mins add the honey and season.
• Place the couscous in a bowl and pour over the boiling stock, cover with plastic wrap and leave to stand for 5 mins, fork through to separate the grains then add chopped herbs, toasted almonds, lemon juice ,olive oil and salt and pepper and mix.
• Serve with toasted pita bread.

MOROCCAN LAMB MEATBALLS WITH HARISSA & COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat a heavy-based pan over a low heat. Add the spices to the pan then toast for 2-3 mins until fragrant. Crush using a pestle and mortar. Set aside.
• Mix the breadcrumbs with 2 tbsp water and the garlic and stir well. Add the lamb, lemon juice, crushed spices, egg most of the mint. Season well. Mix well then shape into 16 balls. Chill for a good 30 mins.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan. Fry the balls for 6-7 mins, turning now and then, until golden brown and cooked. Keep warm. Put the couscous in a large heatproof bowl, then rub in the butter and harissa. Pour over 400ml boiling water, cover and leave for 10 mins. Fluff up and season. Shred the remaining mint, then mix through. Serve with harissa and yogurt.