Moroccan Meatballs With Lemon Pepper Pasta Recipe 465

MEATBALL TAGINE WITH HERBS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Prepare the meatballs: put the onion and parsley in a food processor and process until finely chopped.
• Tear the bread into pieces, add to the onion, along with the egg, and process briefly.
• Add the meat, cumin, paprika, pepper and 1 teaspoons salt and process to a thick paste, scraping down the side of the bowl occasionally.
• Alternative preparation: grate the onion, chop the parsley, crumb the bread, and add to the meat in a bowl with the remaining ingredients. Knead until the mixture is paste like in consistency.
• With moistened hands, shape the mixture into walnut-sized balls and place them on a tray. Cover and refrigerate until required.
• Prepare the sauce: heat the butter or oil in a saucepan and add the onion. Cook over low heat until softened and golden.
• Add the paprika, turmeric, cumin and chili or cayenne pepper, and cook for 1 minute, stirring.
• Add the chicken stock and cilantro and bring to a boil.
• Add the meatballs to the pan, shaking so that they settle into the sauce. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
• Add most of the parsley and the lemon juice and season, if necessary. Return to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes.
• If using preserved lemon, add now.
• Transfer to a tagine or bowl, and sprinkle with remaining parsley.
• Note 1: author suggests serving with crusty bread. I also suggest rice or couscous.
• Note 2: I substituted a yellow curry powder for the turmeric, as turmeric is a principal ingredient in curry powder.
• Note 3: I sometimes need to add a little additional stock for the sauce, depending on the pot I use.

MOROCCAN MEATBALLS WITH LEMON PEPPER PASTA RECIPE - (4.6/5)

Steps:

• MEATBALLS: In a large mixing bowl, combine the meats/pepperoni and blend together with your hands. Sprinkle on harissa, salt and pepper and work into meat blending well. Add the ingredients eggs, yogurt and pineapple and blend together well. Add the bread crumbs, parsley and lemon zest and blend well. Using a spring scoop (small-not ice cream size), portion out about 18 dollops, roll into meatballs placing on a parchment-paper lined cookie sheet. In a heavy skillet (about 10-12") heat the canola oil on medium high. Place 9 meatballs in and brown on all sides. Using tongs, gently remove and place on the parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Repeat with the remaining meatballs. Bake in a preheated 400 oven about 9-12 minutes. When done remove. Meatballs will be added to sauce, coated, covered with a lid, and simmered on low for about 30 minutes. (Note: Be sure to use the rubber spatula to scrape all the good stuff off the parchment paper and into the sauce.) SAUCE: In a 10-12" heavy skillet on medium heat, melt butter and add olive oil. Add shallots and garlic and sauté until translucent. Add wine and let it sizzle/cook about 5 minutes burning off some of the alcohol. Add the concentrated tomato paste and whisk together well. Add the pineapple and blend in. Let this simmer about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium low and add basting sauce and blend well. Let this simmer on low for about 20 minutes stirring occasionally. Add meatballs and coat with sauce. Cover with a lid and let simmer on low until ready to serve. PASTA: Choose any pasta you like & cook according to package directions~~if you can't find lemon pepper pasta, then make your own~~after you're cooked the pasta al dente, just squeeze on the juice of 1/2 lemon and 1/2 tsp of freshly ground cracked pepper. Toss and blend, the coat the noodles with some of the sauce. Adding the chopped arugula gives the pasta a prissy flair!

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.