North African Meatballs Recipe

Name: North African Meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: FOR THE SAUCE; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1/2 small onion, diced; 2 garlic cloves, chopped; 1 lemon, the zest of; 1/2 cup pitted and chopped briny olive; 1/2 cup white wine; 1/4 cup chicken stock or 1/4 cup broth; 1 (14 ounce) can crushed tomatoes or (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes; 1 teaspoon light brown sugar; 1/2 teaspoon dried chili pepper flakes; 1 pinch ground cinnamon; salt; fresh ground pepper; FOR THE MEATBALLS; 1 egg; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves; 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 pinch ground cinnamon; 3/4 lb ground beef; 1/3 cup finely ground rolled oats or 1/3 cup fine breadcrumbs; salt; fresh ground pepper; 3 -4 tablespoons vegetable oil, for cooking; 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Servings: persons

FOR THE SAUCE
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 small onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 lemon, the zest of
1/2 cup pitted and chopped briny olive
1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup chicken stock or 1/4 cup broth
1 (14 ounce) can crushed tomatoes or (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried chili pepper flakes
1 pinch ground cinnamon
salt
fresh ground pepper
FOR THE MEATBALLS
1 egg
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 pinch ground cinnamon
3/4 lb ground beef
1/3 cup finely ground rolled oats or 1/3 cup fine breadcrumbs
salt
fresh ground pepper
3 -4 tablespoons vegetable oil, for cooking
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1
MAKE THE SAUCE:.
2
Saute the onions and garlic in a large saucepan until soft. Add zest and olives; cook for 1 minute. Add wine and deglaze the pan and let reduce for a few minutes. Add stock, tomatoes, sugar, red pepper flakes, and cinnamon. Simmer for about 7 minutes. Season to taste.
3
MAKE THE MEATBALLS:.
4
Whisk the egg and tomato paste until smooth. Add the cilantro, ginger, cumin, and cinnamon. Mix until well blended. Add in the ground beef and rolled oats and season to taste. Combine well but do not overmix. Make 32 1-inch meatballs.
5
Heat the vegetable oil over medium heat and cook meatballs until browned on all sides. Add oil as needed. Add to the sauce and simmer for 20 minutes.
6
Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve over couscous with dried dates.

1270

kcal

Calories

104

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Avoid overcrowding the pan — cook in batches if needed for the best texture.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the flavors settle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Brown sugar instead of white sugar adds a deeper, more caramel-like flavor.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

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How did you like this recipe?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 27 ingredients. The key ingredients include: FOR THE SAUCE, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 small onion, diced, 2 garlic cloves, chopped, and more.

Yes, North African Meatballs falls under the Meat & Poultry category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.

That's it — enjoy your meal!

North African Meatballs

Tips for the best results

Variations & substitutions

My Personal Notes

How did you like this recipe?

Frequently Asked Questions