Best 4 Lebanese Style Spiced Meatballs Recipes
Lebanese-style spiced meatballs, also known as Kofta, are a delectable Middle Eastern dish that combines succulent ground meat with an aromatic blend of spices. These meatballs are characterized by their tender texture, flavorful crust, and a captivating aroma that fills the air as they sizzle in a skillet. This recipe introduces a traditional Lebanese technique of preparing these meatballs, using a combination of ground lamb and beef for a rich and savory flavor. The mixture is seasoned with a harmonious blend of spices, including cumin, coriander, paprika, and mint, creating a symphony of flavors that tantalize the taste buds. Accompanying this recipe are variations that cater to different preferences, including a vegetarian version made with lentils and a unique baked Kofta recipe that offers a healthier alternative while preserving the authentic Lebanese flavors.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
MEATBALLS IN SOUR CHERRY SAUCE (KABAB KARAZ)
The writer Anissa Helou put this bright and tart Syrian dish on the cover of her cookbook "Feast: Food of the Islamic World," which gathers recipes from across the Muslim diaspora. "If there is a dish that symbolizes the cooking of Aleppo, this has to be it," she writes inside; the recipe is adapted from Maria Gaspard-Samra, a chef who taught cooking classes in Aleppo. These small lamb meatballs are browned - take care not to overcook them - and then simmered in a pool of pitted sour cherries, raw cane sugar and pomegranate molasses. Then they are piled on a bed of pita bread triangles drizzled with butter and dusted with chopped parsley and toasted pine nuts. If you can't find fresh or frozen sour cherries, use dried, which you can rehydrate by soaking overnight in water.
Provided by The New York Times
Categories dinner, meatballs, main course
Time 45m
Yield 3 to 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Make the meatballs: Mix the lamb, salt and spice mixture (or allspice) and shape into small balls, the size of large marbles. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat and sauté the meatballs just until lightly browned. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Put the cherries, sugar and pomegranate molasses in a pot large enough to eventually hold the meatballs and bring to a bubble over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and, stirring occasionally, simmer for 15 to 25 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened. Add the meatballs and simmer for another 15 minutes, until tender.
- Assemble the dish: Arrange the pita bread triangles all over a serving platter, coarse side up, making sure the pointed ends are nicely arranged on the outside. Drizzle the melted butter all over the bread. Spoon the meat and sauce over the bread. Sprinkle the chopped parsley all over, then the toasted pine nuts. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 689, UnsaturatedFat 22 grams, Carbohydrate 56 grams, Fat 43 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 26 grams, SaturatedFat 16 grams, Sodium 642 milligrams, Sugar 29 grams, TransFat 0 grams
MOROCCAN-SPICED CHICKEN MEATBALLS
Chicken meatballs may not be a traditionally Moroccan dish, but they work beautifully when spiced with paprika, cumin, cinnamon, ginger and garlic, which are commonly found in the country's cuisine. Whole-milk yogurt does double duty here: It's used to make the meatballs moist and tender, and makes for a speedy sauce to serve with them. Don't use ground chicken made with ultralean breasts; look for labels that show a mix of white and dark meat. (Or if you're feeling ambitious, grind your own boneless, skinless chicken thighs in the food processor.) Serve the meatballs with couscous and a green vegetable for a flavorful weeknight dinner that's well worth the effort.
Provided by Lidey Heuck
Categories dinner, weekday, poultry, main course
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- First, make the yogurt sauce: Combine 1 cup of the yogurt, 1 teaspoon of the garlic, the lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt and black pepper to taste in a small bowl. Mix well, and chill until ready to use.
- Make the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the remaining 1/3 cup yogurt, remaining 1 tablespoon garlic, chicken, panko, egg, parsley, olive oil, sugar, paprika, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few generous grinds of black pepper. Mix gently but thoroughly, until incorporated. Using an ice cream scoop or two spoons, form meatballs about 1 1/2-inches in diameter, then place them on a plate or sheet pan until ready to use.
- In a large skillet, heat 1/8-inch olive oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, fry the meatballs in batches, flipping occasionally, until browned all over and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. (If the meatballs begin browning too quickly or the oil begins smoking, lower the heat.) Transfer the cooked meatballs to a paper towel-lined plate.
- To serve, spread the yogurt sauce in an even layer on a flat platter. Arrange the meatballs on top, and top with a sprinkle of chopped parsley and the pine nuts, if using. Serve hot.
LEBANESE-STYLE MEATBALLS WITH MUJADARA
Brown rice, lentils and onions make a delicious base for this healthy dinner. We've used lean lamb mince and plenty of herbs and spices to add flavour
Provided by Sara Buenfeld
Categories Dinner, Lunch, Main course, Supper
Time 1h10m
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Tip the lamb into a bowl with ¼ of the chopped onion, the garlic, ½ tsp cumin, the lemon zest and some black pepper. Mix well with your hands, then shape into 16 small meatballs. Chill for at least 30 mins.
- Heat 1 tsp oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat. Reserve most of the remaining chopped onion for the salad, then fry the rest for 5 mins until golden. Stir in the remaining cumin, then tip in the rice, bouillon powder, 500ml water and some black pepper. Reduce the heat to a simmer, then cover and cook over a medium heat for 30 mins. Tip in the lentils, cover again and cook for 5-10 mins more until the rice is tender and all the water has been absorbed.
- Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a non-stick pan over a medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and sliced onion, cover and cook for 5 mins. Stir, then cook for 5 mins more until the meatballs are cooked through and the onions are golden. Stir the tahini and lemon juice together with 3-4 tbsp water to make a sauce.
- Mix all of the salad ingredients with the reserved chopped onion. If you're following our Healthy Diet Plan, divide half of the mujadara between two plates and top with half of the meatballs and onions. Spoon over half of the tahini sauce and serve with half of the salad, two lemon wedges and a few mint leaves. Cover and chill the remaining portions to eat another day. Will keep for two to three days in the fridge.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 497 calories, Fat 17 grams fat, SaturatedFat 4 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 54 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 9 grams sugar, Fiber 9 grams fiber, Protein 27 grams protein, Sodium 0.9 milligram of sodium
LEBANESE-STYLE SPICED MEATBALLS
Local recipe-switched from pan fried to baked. Interesting that the recipe does not call for any onions but if you want to add say, 1/3-1/2 cup finely minced yellow onion that would be okay with me! (I didn't add onion.)
Provided by COOKGIRl
Categories Meat
Time 35m
Yield 18-22 meatballs
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Combine meatballs mixture in a large mixing bowl and stir *just* until combined.
- Cover and refrigerate until mixture is firm. (I do this first thing in the morning.).
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Form into 1 1/2" balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake about 20 minutes or until browned and no longer pink in the center.
- If desired, serve with plain yogurt that has been drained or tahini.
- Delicious served over quinoa accompanied by a fresh salad with seasonal ingredients or steamed veggies in the cooler months.
- Yield: 18-22 meatballs.
Tips:
- Use a combination of ground lamb and beef. This will give the meatballs a rich and flavorful taste.
- Add plenty of spices. Lebanese meatballs are known for their bold flavors, so don't be shy with the spices. Cumin, coriander, paprika, and allspice are all good choices.
- Don't overmix the meatball mixture. Overmixing can make the meatballs tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Shape the meatballs into small, uniform balls. This will help them cook evenly.
- Brown the meatballs before simmering them. This will give them a nice crust and help to keep them moist.
- Serve the meatballs with a flavorful sauce. A tomato-based sauce or a yogurt-based sauce are both good choices.
Conclusion:
Lebanese-style spiced meatballs are a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. They can be served as an appetizer, main course, or side dish. With their bold flavors and tender texture, these meatballs are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give these Lebanese-style spiced meatballs a try. You won't be disappointed!
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