A unique meatballs recipe with a Lebanese twist! Melt-in-your-mouth tender meatballs with vivid notes of cinnamon and allspice. And the braising tomato sauce...not your average!
390 kcal
/serving
30 min
Serves
6
Medium
middle-eastern
Ingredients
- 1 slice sandwich bread, toasted to a golden brown
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 1/2 lb quality grass-fed ground beef
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup grated yellow onions
- 2 to 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1/2 cup packed fresh chopped parsley
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground allspice
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
- Salt and pepper
- Private Reserve extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup (240ml) grated yellow onion
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 carrot, finely grated
- 1 28-oz can quality crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses (optional)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- Salt and pepper
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional, if you like a spicy sauce)
Preparation
Not specified
Cooking
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C), and prepare a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, place the toasted bread and cover with the milk.
- Let the bread soak in the milk until very soft and mushy (about 15 minutes), then squeeze the bread well to wring all the milk out.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the bread, ground beef, and the remaining meatballs ingredients.
- Using clean hands, mix/knead to combine.
- Form the meat mixture into meatballs (each the size of a tablespoon.) Arrange the meatballs in one layer on the prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake in 375°F (190°C) heated oven for 11 to 14 minutes or so.
- (don’t worry if they’re not fully done at this point, take them out and set aside).
- While meatballs are baking, prepare the sauce.
- In a 5-quart braiser like this one or a large, deep saute pan like this one, heat 2 tbsp olive oil until shimmering but not smoking.
- Add the onions and cook over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring regularly, until golden.
- Add the garlic and cook for a quick 30 seconds while tossing.
- Now add carrots, crushed tomatoes and the remaining sauce ingredients.
- Bring sauce to a boil for 5 minutes or so, then lower heat.
- Add the meatballs to the sauce, cover and let simmer for 20 minutes or so until the meatballs are fully cooked through.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if you like.
- Serve in dinner bowls with Lebanese rice or warm pita.
- A side of fattoush salad is a great addition to this meal.
Plating & Serving
Not specified
Suggested Sides
Nutrition per Serving
390
Calories
27.2g
Protein
23% DV
24.3g
Carbs
8% DV
21.3g
Fat
27% DV
5.1g
Fiber
14% DV
12.0g
Sugars
854mg
Sodium
57% DV
98mg
Cholesterol
28% DV
| Health Labels | Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Fish Free Shellfish Free Pork Free Crustacean Free Celery Free Mustard Free Sesame Free Lupine Free Mollusk Free Alcohol Free |
* Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
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Recipe Details