-
1
Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4.
-
2
MEATBALLS:
-
3
Mix the garlic, cumin, coriander and cinnamon, salt & pepper together.
-
4
Break up any lumps in the minced beef and add the spices, finely diced onion and the beaten egg.
-
5
Mix together well, using your hands.
-
6
Shape into balls the size of a walnut - you should get about 32 to 36 meatballs.
-
7
Roll them into the flour and heat up the olive oil in a large frying pan.
-
8
Fry them in batches - do not overcrowd the pan - fry until golden brown, are firm & keeping their shape.
-
9
Put the meatballs to one side.
-
10
LENTILS:
-
11
Heat up the olive oil in the same frying pan as the meatballs were cooked inches.
-
12
Fry the garlic and onion over a low heat until translucent & golden but not brown.
-
13
Add the spices and then the lentils and stir them around to get a good coating of the oil.
-
14
Add the tinned tomatoes, vegetable stock, cinnamon stick & the dried apricots.
-
15
Give them all a good stir and cook over a low heat for about 2 minutes.
-
16
Pour the lentils into a large ovenproof dish and place the meatballs on top. Scatter the cherry tomatoes around the meatballs.(They look good if kept on the vine).
-
17
Cover and cook for about 1 hr, or until the sauce has thickened.
-
18
Take the cover off for the last 10-15 minutes and allow the meatballs & cherry tomatoes to brown.
-
19
Remove the cinnamon stick before serving.
-
20
Whilst the meatball & lentil bake is cooking, prepare and cook the vegetable accompaniment.
-
21
Take a large wok and heat up the olive oil.
-
22
Add the fennel bulb, onions & carrots and stir well.
-
23
Add the brown sugar, stir well & turn up the heat. Cook the vegetables until they are tinged brown on the edges and the sugar has completely dissolved.
-
24
Turn the heat down and add the vegetable stock, cover the wok and cook for about 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender but still holding their shape.
-
25
Add the orange juice and mix well, cook without a lid for a further 5 minutes.
-
26
Pour into a serving dish & garnish with grated orange zest, fennel seeds and some of the green fronds from the fennel.
-
27
Serve alongside the meatball and lentil bake.
-
28
Garnish the meatball & lentil bake with some of the green fronds from the fennel bulbs.
-
29
Flatbreads, rice or couscous would also be good accompaniments, if needed, for this meal.