Moroccan Beef /turkey Meatball Tagine

Moroccan Beef /turkey Meatball Tagine
From Bon Appetit

Brian came home from the dentist last week with the magazine and ask me to try some of the meat ball recipes. We loved this one... well Brian and I did, the kids might come around next time. It is a little different.

Meatballs
1 1/2 lb ground beef (I used turkey)
1/3 c coarsely grated onions
1/3 c bread crumbs
1/4 c chopped fresh cilantro
1 egg
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp coarse kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground ginger

mix all ingredients together and form in to 1 1/2 in balls. Set aside.



Stew
1 T olive oil
3 1/2 C chopped onions
4 cloves garlic minced
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp turmeric
1/8 tsp saffron thread
2 c beef broth
1 14.5 oz can chopped tomatoes in juice
1/4 c golden raisins
2 c 1/2 in thick carrots sliced (cut diagonal)
1/4 c chopped fresh cilantro
1 5 oz package baby spinach leaves

Stew
In oven safe pot heat oil, Add onions, saute about 15 min. Add garlic, cinnamon turmeric and saffron stir 2 min. Add broth, tomatoes with juice and raisins. Preheat oven to 350. Bring stew to simmer. Add Carrots. Carefully submerge meatball. sprinkle 1/4 c cilantro on top. Cover, place in oven. Heat until carrots and meatballs are cooked, about 35 min. Sprinkle spinach over stew, cover and bake until spinach wilts about 5 min. Gently stir in spinach careful not to break meatballs. Remove cinnamon sticks.

Couscous

2 T olive oil
2 cloves garlic minced
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 2/3 c water
1 tsp finely grated lemon peel
1/2 tsp coarse kosher salt
1 1/2 c plain couscous
1/4 c chopped fresh cilantro
2 T fresh lemon juice

Heat oil in med sauce pan, add garlic and turmeric, stir 1 min. Add water, lemon peel, and salt.Bring to boil. Remove from heat add couscous. Let stand 5 min. Fluff with fork and mix in cilantro and and lemon juice. Season with pepper and course salt.


Serve stew over couscous.