5 mins
Meatball Tagine with Lemon & Olives
Recipe by Graham
Meatball Tagine with Lemon & Olives is a beautifully rich dish with spiced lamb meatballs, offset with the fresh taste of lemon. A perfect dish for a cold winter evening or, if you have a tagine pot (with the tall chimney) as an impressively simple dish when you are entertaining friends.
Typically, a tagine is a rich stew of meat, which can include beef, chicken, fish, or lamb, and most often also includes vegetables or fruit. A tagine is a dish that is easiest made when you do all your preparation beforehand. (In fact this is true of most cooking, but particularly so when there are lots of ingredients).
Mash with Attitude 
Graham's Meatloaf Ingredients for Meatball Tagine with Lemon & Olives
Currently displaying quantities in US Imperial Measurements
How to Cook Meatball Tagine with Lemon & Olives
- Peel the onions, chop thrm roughly, place them in a food processor and blitz until finely chopped. Zest one of the lemons and squeeze the juice (you need both). Chop the parsley, peel and grate the ginger, deseeded and finely chop the chilli and chop the coriander.
- Put the minced (ground) lamb, lemon zest, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, parsley and half the onions in a large bowl, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Using your hands, mix until everything is well combined, then shape into walnut-sized balls.
- Heat the oil in a large flameproof dish, or flameproof tagine with a lid, then add the remaining onions, grated ginger, chilli and saffron. Cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes until the onion is softened and starting to colour. Add the lemon juice, lamb stock, tomato purée and olives, then bring to the boil. Add the meatballs, one at a time, then reduce the heat, cover with the lid and cook for 20 minutes at a gentle simmer, turning the meatballs a couple of times to ensure they are evenly cooked.
- Remove lid, cut the second lemon into quarters and add the lemon wedges and the fresh coriander, tucking them in between the meatballs. Cook, uncovered, for a further 10 minutes until the liquid has reduced and thickened slightly. Serve hot with couscous or fresh crusty bread.
GRAHAM'S HOT TIP:
The lemon wedges at the end can be optional. Best taste the tagine first because some people will find it "lemony" enough without adding the wedges.
The lemon in this recipe may well strip out any citrussy flavours in a white wine, so best to go for a light read like a Spanish Rioja or a southern French rosé such as the Costières de Nimes.Reviews of Meatball Tagine with Lemon & Olives
| May 13 2014 I have made these 3 times now and they have amazing flavor and went down really well with all the family. I have also passed this recipe to my friends who loved it too. I have also made the meatballs in the morning and placed them on a plate covered in the fridge ready to cook later which speeds up dinner time. I left out the olives as most of the family don't like them. So full of flavor and smell delicious when cooking. A winner every time amelia (1 review) |
What To Eat Tonight
Lamb is sometimes thought of as "tough" meat but, properly cooked, it is one of the finest meats for both everyday and when entertaining.
Pies, pies and more delicious pies. Steaming hot from the oven or cold from the fridge, we have a whole range to wet your taste buds.
Italian food has a great reputation for a very good reason - it's great food! Don't miss the chance to cook Italian with us.
Other Lamb Recipes
Spiced Parsnip Shepherd's Pie is a great way to prepare a pie with a difference. You can use either lamb or beef according to your personal preference
If I suggested that you seal a leg of lamb in a parcel then roast it long and slow with garlic, lemon and herbs, and potatoes, what would you think?
I ran out of compliments when first I tasted Stuffed Shoulder of Lambat a friend's house just outside Paris. This is really delicious.
