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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

  • In a large pan, sauté the onion and celery in the oil until soft - about 5 minutes.
  • Add the garlic, salt chili flakes and cook, stirring, for a further minute.
  • Add the harissa, smoked paprika and cinnamon and cook for a further minute.
  • 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.
  • Put the ground turkey in a big bowl. Add the vegetable mixture and breadcrumbs and mix well.
  • Add in the molasses and mix well.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour and up to overnight.
  • Take small spoonfuls of the mixture, and roll into compact balls. Place on a baking tray.
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  • 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

  • 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.
  • Reduce heat to a simmer, add the mushrooms and cook, uncovered, for approx 30 minutes, or until sauce has thickened nicely.
  • Add the lemon and check for seasoning.
  • Finish by adding the meatballs into the sauce - both to reheat the meatballs and to draw out some of there flavor for the sauce.
  • Serve and enjoy!