MOROCCAN MEATBALLS

These guys are quick becoming a best seller at Meat at Billy's. Quick and easy to cook.

We make these using seasoned lamb mince and then stuff a piece of fetta into the centre. We then brush over some of our very own Moroccan marinade and then sprinkle with a little parsley and parmesan.

Simply bake these guys these guys in the oven and serve with a green or roasted veg salad & couscous dressed with Suzanne Quintner's Chermoula Dressing. Or serve with baked potato and herbed natural yoghurt with a dollop of spicy harissa.

MOROCCAN SLOW COOKED LAMB

We use this Moroccan Tagine Intense Flavour Paste a lot in the shop. It's made right here in Brisbane by a lady named Suzanne Quintner, who has been making Moroccan marinades, pastes & preserved lemons since well before it was popular to do so (-:

This is what we use on our our insanely popular, Moroccan lamb shanks that come pre marinated. We also sell it instore so you can try using it to marinate different things at home. It's made from onion, tomato, preserved lemons, Moroccan spices, honey, Australian vinegar, garlic, ginger & rose water.

I often get asked if you need a tagine to cook with this paste. The answer is absolutely not. While a tagine pot/dish looks beautiful, it is simply not required to cook these types of meals. A heavy based pot, casserole dish or slow cooker works in pretty much the same way.

Try the tagine paste with anything slow cooked - beef cheeks, lamb shanks, oxtail or even poultry. Try brushing a little on some quails before grilling them.


MOROCCAN SLOW COOKED LAMB
Serves 4

*Pick and choose your own vegetables here, there's no rules. You can use normal potato, throw in some pitted green olives & dates, cherry tomatoes - whatever takes your fancy really.

750g 3cm diced lamb shoulder
Half a jar of Suzanne Quinter Moroccan Tagine Paste
half a sweet potato chopped
1 brown onion cut into large chunks
3 cloves of garlic roughly chopped
eggplant cut into large chunks
Cup of chicken stock or water
bunch of fresh coriander
natural yoghurt (I prefer Meredith sheep milk yoghurt)

OVEN METHOD
Preheat oven to 160 degrees.
Throw everything into heavy based casserole dish and cook for a couple of hours or until the lamb is soft and falls apart.

SLOW COOKER
Throw everything into the pot and turn it on. You might need a little more liquid for this method.

STOVE TOP
Throw everything into a casserole pot. Bring to a gentle simmer with the lid and leave for a couple of hours or until the lamb is soft and falls apart.

*Serve on rice, cous cous, quinoa or freekah topped with fresh coriander and a dollop of yoghurt on the side.

MOROCCAN MEATBALLS

Recipe courtesy of Jacqueline Guglielmino www.everydaycook.com.au

INGREDIENTS

 500g lean minced lamb

 1 finely chopped onion

 2 garlic cloves crushed

 2cm chunk root ginger, grated

 1 tsp of chilli power

 2 tsp ground cumin

 1 cinnamon quill

 2 tsps of tumeric

 good pinch of saffron threads

 olive oil

 2 pieces of preserved lemon

 2 x 400g tins plum tomatoes

 200ml chicken stock

 ½ bunch coriander, chopped

HERB COUSCOUS

 200g couscous or quinoa

 50g butter

 350ml chicken stock, boiling

 ½ bunch coriander , chopped

 ½ bunch parsely, chopped

Method

 1. Put the lamb, onion, half the garlic, half the ginger and half the spices in a bowl and season well. Mix (clean hands are best) and form into little meatballs (you’ll make around 30).

 2. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large non-stick pan and add the meatballs in batches, frying until browned all over. Scoop out, then add the rest of the garlic, ginger and spices and cook for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and stock and season. Simmer for 10 minutes, then add back the meatballs and cook for at least another 20 minutes until sauce is thickened. Stir in the coriander. Save some coriander for serving to sprinkle on

 3. To make the couscous put in a bowl with the butter and some seasoning. Pour over the chicken stock and cover with glad wrap. Leave for 10 minutes. Stir the herbs through and serve with meatballs. If you choose quinoa, you must wash the quinoa first, thoroughly and then gently simmer win the chicken stock and butter until softened. Add herbs before serving.