Kefta Tagine with Saffron Butter Sauce

Kefta Tagine with Saffron Butter Sauce

Kefta Tagine with Saffron Butter Sauce

Never have meatballs been so luxurious until now. These mini meatballs are poached in a saffron butter sauce with onions and Moroccan spices in a tagine. If you don’t have a tagine, you can definetily use a sauté pan. Traditionally, the meatballs are scooped up with a Moroccan bread called khobz; kind of like pita. If that’s not the way you want to go, serve the meatballs and sauce over basmati rice or mashed potatoes. Either way, you’ll be full and satisfied.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Moroccan
Keyword: Beef, main course, Moroccan, north african
Author: Alex Gorgos

Equipment

  • tagine

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 1 lb 90% lean ground beef
  • 1 small onion grated
  • 2 tbsp parsley chopped
  • 2 tbsp cilantro chopped
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Saffron Butter Sauce

  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 1 medium onion grated
  • 1/4 cup parsley chopped
  • 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
  • 1/2 tsp saffron threads
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/2 cup beef stock
  • salt to taste
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

  • Mix all of the meatball ingredients together.
    Moroccan, main course, beef
  • Form into small meatballs; about the size of a cherry.
    Moroccan, main course, beef
  • Melt the butter in your tagine over medium low heat. Add the onions, parsley, cilantro, spices, and cinnamon stick. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
    Moroccan, main course, beef
  • Add the beef broth. Season with salt. Cover and simmer for another 10 minutes.
    Moroccan, main course, beef
  • Add the meatballs into the sauce.
    Moroccan, main course, beef
  • Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
    Moroccan, main course, beef
Moroccan, main course, beef
Squeeze a little lemon juice over the meatballs and serve.
Moroccan, main course, beef
Traditionally, the meatballs are scooped up with a Moroccan bread called khobz; kind of like pita. If that’s not the way you want to go, serve the meatballs and sauce over basmati rice or mashed potatoes.