Succulent Harissa Lamb Meatballs

I never knew that there was a restaurant in San Francisco that serves Moroccan food. The following story is about the first time I had harissa lamb meatballs. I was so impressed by it that I had to share the story and the recipe with you.

On that crisp evening in San Francisco, my wife and I were exploring the city when we came across a delightful Moroccan restaurant in the city center. We could feel the vibrant energy inside as soon as we stepped through the door. Additionally, the tantalizing aroma of spices and grilled meats delightfully assailed our nostrils. We took our seats with anticipation, we eagerly scanned the menu for something that sounded appealing to us. It was then that we discovered the tantalizing dish of harissa lamb meatballs – a combination of flavors that we couldn’t resist. We were excited to make our selection and decided without hesitation that it would be our choice for this evening’s meal.

The description of the dish intrigued us and decided to give it a try. The moment it arrived at our table, we could smell the tantalizing scent of harissa, and it was steaming hot. Our curiosity had been thoroughly aroused, so without hesitation we ordered it. The smell of the spicy harissa wafted through the air, making our mouths water in anticipation. One bite of the succulent, tender harissa lamb meatballs, smothered in a velvety, sumptuous tomato-based sauce, hooked us instantly. We relished each mouthful, endeavoring to identify the various flavors and spices that contributed to the deliciousness of this exquisite dish.

As we were relishing our meal, a loud crash suddenly shattered the cheerful ambiance of the restaurant. Unluckily, a customer had clumsily stumbled into a piece of ornamental pottery, which was now scattered across the ground in fragments. The commotion caught the attention of a Moroccan woman, who emerged from the kitchen to survey the damage. Shortly after, two workers came out of the kitchen with a broom and a dustpan to clean up the mess.

The woman glanced our way, her expression conveying a sense of understanding and empathy. Without saying a word, she quickly turned and made her way into the kitchen; after a brief moment, she reemerged carrying an ornate plate filled to the brim with pieces of sweet baklava. She offered us an apologetic smile as if to make up for the temporary interruption. We were incredibly thankful for the thoughtful and generous gesture, and we couldn’t help but offer our compliments on the scrumptious harissa lamb meatballs. We were truly appreciative of her kind act and wanted to express our gratitude.

Once our meal had been completed, I mustered up the necessary nerve to request the recipe from the woman. Initially, she was hesitant, claiming that it wasn’t something to be shared with those outside of her family. After much persuasion and cajoling, she eventually relented and consented to share the recipe’s ingredients with us.

And that’s how we were fortunate enough to acquire the cherished recipe for harissa lamb meatballs. We were extremely happy to be able to reproduce the dish in our own home, and it rapidly became one of our favorite dishes for when we have company over.

In order to prepare this dish, you will require a few essential ingredients. Begin by taking a large skillet and heating up two tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot enough, you can start adding your other ingredients. Saute a finely diced onion in the pan and add in some minced garlic and a pinch of caraway seeds. Cook until the onion becomes softened and translucent.

Next, add in some tomato paste, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, and a generous helping of harissa paste. Let the sauce bubble away on low heat for a few minutes to allow the flavors to combine and mingle together harmoniously. Add water, salt and pepper to the already simmering sauce. Let the mixture continue simmering until it reaches the desired thickness.

With the sauce simmering away, add the lamb meatballs and let them cook for a few minutes until heated through. Serve the dish of tender and flavourful meatballs hot alongside couscous, as well as a fresh cucumber and tomato salad.

To sum up, harissa lamb meatballs are a delicacy that we will always cherish and remember fondly. We can truly say that it occupies a special place in all of our hearts. The power of delicious food to bring people together is emphatically illustrated through Middle Eastern hospitality and the kindness of strangers. This serves as a poignant reminder of how unifying good food can be. We hope that you’ll take immense pleasure in preparing this dish and that it will bring the same joyous, magical feeling into your own home. We are confident that you will be enchanted by the process of making it, just as we have been.

So here is the recipe for these harissa lamb meatballs:

Ingredients:

• 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• A pinch of caraway seeds
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 can (28 oz) of diced tomatoes
• 1 can (28 oz) of crushed tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons harissa paste. Add more to taste.
• 1 1/2 cups of water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

For the Meatballs:

1. 2 pounds of ground lamb
2. 3 tablespoons of chopped mint
3. 3 tablespoons of chopped flat-leaf parsley
4. 2 cloves of minced garlic
5. 2 large eggs
6. 1 teaspoon of salt
7. 1 teaspoon of zest from a fresh lemon
8. Oil for frying

How to make harissa lamb meatballs?

1. In a large pot, heating olive oil over medium-high heat, sauté the diced onion until soft and translucent (approximately 6-8 minutes). While stirring, add the tomato paste, minced garlic and caraway seeds; cook for a couple more minutes to obtain a sauce.
2. In the pot, add Harissa paste, canned tomatoes and water. Achieve a low simmer by heating it. Cover and let cook for 30-40 minutes until it has transformed into a thick sauce with a deep color.
3. In a large bowl, blend the ground lamb together with mint, parsley, garlic, eggs, salt and lemon zest to create a savory mixture – creating scrumptious meatballs. Blend together gently with your hands making sure not to compress too much into the mix resulting in an intangibly delicious combination.
4. Roll gently using your hands or use a cookie scoop, form tablespoon-sized meatballs out of the mixture and place them on a plate until they are ready to fry.
5. Heat a large sauté pan and add vegetable oil (or another neutral oil). Fry the meatballs in batches, ensuring to rotate them for even browning. Remove each group of meatballs from the pan before adding additional oil, as necessary.
6. Fry the meatballs in batches until all of them have been nice and browned. Once completed, add the browned meatballs to the sauce (along with the extra liquid from frying), simmering for an additional 15 minutes.
7. Serve this delicious dish with couscous and a sprinkle of freshly chopped herbs, such as parsley or cilantro, for an added layer of flavor. If you’re feeling especially fancy, you can also garnish your plate with some additional herbs to really take it up a notch.

Harissa lamb meatballs are a perfect dish for lunch or dinner that will bring joy to your taste buds as well as to your family and friends. Enjoy!