Mohammeds Tagine Kefta Recipes

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.

MOROCCAN MEATBALLS ~ KEFTA TAGINE

Steps:

• Toast the saffron strands in a warm, but not hot, skillet for just a minute or so. Crush again.
• Soak the crushed, toasted saffron strands in the hot water and store in a small jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. Pour out 1/4 cup saffron water for use in this recipe and reserve the remaining 3/4 cup for another use (see LC Note above). For longer storage of the saffron water, quadruple the recipe quantities above, pour the saffron water into a plastic ice cube tray, and freeze into cubes. Once they are frozen, shake out the cubes and store in a freezer bag. Each cube will be equivalent to 2 tablespoons saffron water or a good pinch of dried saffron threads.
• Combine the ground lamb or beef, crème fraîche or beef suet, paprika, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne, salt and pepper, parsley and cilantro in a food processor and blend until a paste forms. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minute or until ready to cook.
• Shape the meat mixture into 24 olive-size balls and place on a plate. If you think you may not have seasoned the meatballs sufficiently with salt and pepper, pinch off a tiny bit of a meatball, sizzle it up in a skillet, and taste it. Season the meat mixture accordingly.
• Place an 11- or 12-inch tagine or cazuela or Dutch oven on a heat diffuser, if you have one, over medium-low heat. Add the grated onion, butter, saffron water, spices, salt, 3/4 cup of the cilantro, and hot water.
• Slowly raise the heat and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer gently to blend the flavors, about 10 minutes.
• Add the kefta, or meatballs, to the sauce and poach, covered, for 30 minutes, turning them midway through the cooking.
• Add the lemon juice to the sauce. Taste and correct the seasoning with salt and pepper. Transfer the hot pot to a wooden surface or a folded towel placed on a serving plate and garnish with the remaining 1/4 cup cilantro.
• Spoon the kefta and sauce directly from the pot onto plates, with warm slices of toasted bread for mopping up the sauce.

MOHAMMED'S TAGINE KEFTA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a tagine. If you do not have a tagine you can also use a large covered frying pan or casserole pot.
• Put in the onion, garlic and parsley as well as the paprika, salt and pepper. Stir and cover, leaving to saute over a low heat while you prepare the meatballs.
• Add the cumin to the meat, which helps it stay together. Mix well and form into either meatballs or flat patties.
• After about five minutes you can add the tomatoes to the pot and continue to simmer.
• Stir and add a bit of cold water if necessary as the tomatoes cook down and develop into a nice sauce. This should take at least 10 minutes, don't rush it.
• When you have a good sauce, put the meat patties on top of the sauce and cover.
• If you want to add the hot pepper you can lay it on top at this point as well.
• Cover and let bubble away for another 10 minutes or until the beef is cooked, adding a bit of water if necessary.
• Once the meat is cooked crack the eggs on top and let cook for another couple minutes, covered, until the eggs are done.
• Serve hot with lots of bread to soak up the sauce.

KEFTA TAJINE (MOROCCAN SPICED MEATBALLS W/ EGGS IN TOMATO SAUCE)

Steps:

• Use your hands to mix the meatball ingredients, and roll mixture into mini meatballs 3/4"-1" in diameter; set aside.
• In a skillet or tajine combine sauce ingredients and let mixture simmer, covered, over low heat for 5 minutes.
• Add meatballs, squash, and peas to the sauce and simmer, covered, over medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
• Pour the eggs in in a stream over everything.
• Cover and cook just long enough to cook the egg (about 3 minutes, depending on how well done you like your eggs).
• Serve warm over couscous, sprinkled with cumin or black pepper if desired.