Lamb Meatballs with Tomato, Eggplant and Chickpeas
Course: DinnerCuisine: MediterraneanDifficulty: Easy4
servings20
minutes25
minutesThis is a go to recipe, for ease and for a great meal. Add some couscous and homemade naan or pita bread and you have a great feast. I also like to serve this with green beans or roasted bell peppers. It is easy to make, easy to cook and reheat. The eggplant part is delicious on its own or with the meatballs.
Ingredients Meatballs
1 1/4 pound ground lamb
1/2 cup panko
1 lg egg, beaten
1 Tablespoon raspberries el hanout
2 teaspoons lemon zest
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon table salt
2 Tablespoons olive oil
- Eggplant Tomato Chickpeas
1 pound eggplant, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 red onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tablespoon raspberries el hanout
1 teaspoon table salt
1 lg can crushed tomatoes (28oz)
1 (15oz) can chickpeas, rinsed
3/4 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup harissa paste
1/2 cup green olives, halved
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1/2 cup of each fresh chopped cilantro and mint
Directions
- For the meatballs: Place the ground lamb in a bowl, add the panko, beaten egg, raspberries el hanout, lemon zest, garlic and salt. Using your hands, mix well and roll out about 9 meatballs. You can easily make them smaller if you like but my family likes bigger meatballs. I place them in an oiled roasting dish or Pyrex dish. I prefer to cook the meatballs separately in the oven at 425, but if you want to cook them with the sauce. Heat oil in a Dutch oven and brown the meatballs on all sides for about 5.
- For the eggplant, in a dutch oven, heat the olive oil and once hot add the eggplant, onion, garlic, res el hanout, and salt. Stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes. You want the eggplant to be soft.
- Stir in the tomatoes, chickpeas, raisins, water, olives, harissa paste, and lemon zest. Nestle the meatballs in the eggplant sauce and bring to a boil. Cover and cook until meatballs are cooked through about 10 min. They should register about 160 on an instant read thermometer. If you are cooking the meatballs in the oven, separately then serve over polenta or couscous with the sauce.
- Garnish with the fresh chopped cilantro and mint.
