Moroccan lamb meatballs with harissa & couscous recipe

All the flavours of a tagine in meatball form, with the kick of homemade harissa and a cooling dollop of yogurt

Serves 4
Prep 35 mins
Cook 20 mins plus chilling
Freezable (Only the meatballs can be frozen)

Ingredients

2 tsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp coriander seeds
50g breadcrumbs
1 garlic clove , crushed
500g lamb mince
juice 1 lemon
1 egg , lightly beaten
20g pack mint , most leaves chopped
2-3 tbsp sunflower oil
150ml natural yogurt , to serve

FOR THE COUSCOUS

300g couscous
50g butter
2 tbsp harissa - shop-bought or see below, to serve

Method

1. Heat a heavy-based pan over a low heat. Add the spices to the pan then toast for 2-3 mins until fragrant. Crush using a pestle and mortar. Set aside.

2. Mix the breadcrumbs with 2 tbsp water and the garlic and stir well. Add the lamb, lemon juice, crushed spices, egg most of the mint. Season well. Mix well then shape into 16 balls. Chill for a good 30 mins.

3. Heat the oil in a frying pan. Fry the balls for 6-7 mins, turning now and then, until golden brown and cooked. Keep warm. Put the couscous in a large heatproof bowl, then rub in the butter and harissa. Pour over 400ml boiling water, cover and leave for 10 mins. Fluff up and season. Shred the remaining mint, then mix through. Serve with harissa and yogurt.

Try

Homemade harissa
Put 2 tbsp each coriander, fennel and cumin seeds into a hot, dry pan. Toast for 2 mins until fragrant. Grind until fine in pestle and mortar. Wipe out pan, add 50ml olive oil, gently fry 4 chopped garlic cloves, 1 chopped red onion, 1 chopped red pepper and 6 fat red deseeded chopped chillies until soft. Mix spices and veg in food processor and blend to smooth paste. Leftovers will keep in fridge for up to a week, covered with layer of oil.

Nutrition per serving:
651 kcalories, protein 33g, carbohydrate 50g, fat 37 g, saturated fat 16g, fibre 0g, sugar 2g, salt 0.84 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, September 2009.