Go Back
Print

Moroccan Meatballs

Middle Eastern flavors to provide some real depth for your meatballs.

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil divided
  • 2 - 2 1/4 lbs ground turkey
  • 1 Medium onion diced
  • 1 Stalk of celery diced
  • 3/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 Clove of garlic minced
  • 2 Tablespoon Harissa
  • 1-1/2 teaspoon Smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon Chili flakes
  • Pinch of cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup Breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon Molasses

Tomato Sauce

  • 1 Tbsp Oil
  • 2 Cloves of garlic minced
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 Tbsp Harissa paste
  • 1 tsp Smoked paprika
  • 1 Cinnamon stick
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 1 Tbsp Beet sugar
  • 1 - 14 oz Can of fire roasted tomatoes
  • 1 - 14 oz Can of Stewed tomatoes
  • 1 20 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 box of bella mushrooms sliced
  • 1 Tbsp Lemon juice

Instructions

  1. In a large pan, sauté the onion and celery in the oil until soft - about 5 minutes.
  2. Add the garlic, salt chili flakes and cook, stirring, for a further minute.
  3. Add the harissa, smoked paprika and cinnamon and cook for a further minute.
  4. Transfer mixture to a food processor along with the remaining ingredients and pulse lightly - 4 - 5 pulses. You want the mixture to maintain some texture.
  5. Put the ground turkey in a big bowl. Add the vegetable mixture and breadcrumbs and mix well.
  6. Add in the molasses and mix well.
  7. Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour and up to overnight.
  8. Take small spoonfuls of the mixture, and roll into compact balls. Place on a baking tray.
  9. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  10. Cook the meatballs for 10 - 12 minutes. Turn the oven to low broil and broil for 5 more minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

For the sauce

  1. In a medium pot, sauté the garlic over low heat for 1 - 2 minutes. Add the salt and smoked paprika and stir well. Add the cinnamon stick, harissa, bay leaf, beet sugar, tomatoes and water and bring to a boil.
  2. Reduce heat to a simmer, add the mushrooms and cook, uncovered, for approx 30 minutes, or until sauce has thickened nicely.
  3. Add the lemon and check for seasoning.
  4. Finish by adding the meatballs into the sauce - both to reheat the meatballs and to draw out some of there flavor for the sauce.
  5. Serve and enjoy!