Lebanese Meat Balls

Whoo Hooo!!  Domestic Witch is once again hosting her "Christmas Balls" Blog party! 

Last year I contributed my recipe for Gluten Free Walnut Rum Balls.  Lately I have been craving savoury more than sweet, so I have a slightly different offering (which I have been specifically requested to make for New Years!)

I was first introduced to Kofta by the Lebanese husband of a woman I belly dance with.  I learned a lot from him, about cooking, and about life.



For every pound of ground meat use the following spices (more or less - I don't measure, I just go as the mood strikes me).  I make it often enough that I keep a jar of the dry spices pre mixed in the cupboard.

I find it works best with beef.  Ground Lamb is traditional, and I have also done it with ground turkey or chicken, which gives a much stronger flavour.



4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons grated onion
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Mash the garlic into a paste with the salt using a mortar and pestle or the flat side of a chef's knife on your cutting board. Mix the garlic and everything else into the ground meat until well blended. Form the mixture into balls.(Hint - wetting your hands often while making meat balls helps keep you cleaner).  Before cooking it is recommended to refrigerate them at least 30 minutes or up to 12 hours, but I am rarely organized enough to have them done in advance.I do mine in the oven (on a broiler pan) or on the BBQ.  Traditionally, they would be done as kebabs over a grill, but I can never get mine to stay together on the skewers, so I just make meat balls.




They are lovely served with hummous, pita bread, fresh leaf lettuce, mint, and tzatziki ( I know tzatziki isn't Lebanese, but it is really good with Kofta!). 

Stay tuned ... there may be more balls in the air before this party is over!