Turkey Kefta Mkaouara (Meatball & Egg Tagine)

Photo: IainCameron · CC BY 2.0 · source

Little cumin-and-cinnamon spiced turkey meatballs simmered in a thick tomato sauce, finished with eggs poached right in the pan and eaten with crusty bread. Classically beef or lamb.

Ingredients

• 1½ lb ground turkey
• 4 eggs
• 2 cans (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 2 onions (½ grated, 1½ sliced)
• 5 garlic cloves, grated
• ½ bunch parsley, minced
• ½ bunch cilantro, minced
• 1 crusty baguette

From your pantry: 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp ground cumin, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp cayenne, salt, pepper.

Instructions

1. Mix the turkey with the grated onion, 2 cloves garlic, half the herbs, 1 tsp each paprika and cumin, ½ tsp cinnamon, a pinch of cayenne, 1 tsp salt and pepper. Roll into 1-inch balls with wet hands.
2. Heat the oil in a large deep skillet with a lid over medium. Cook the sliced onion until soft, 5 minutes, then add the meatballs and brown them on a few sides, 5 minutes.
3. Add the remaining garlic and spices, then the tomatoes and ½ cup water. Cover and simmer gently 25 minutes, stirring once, until the sauce is thick.
4. Make 4 wells and crack in the eggs. Season, cover and cook over low until the whites are set but the yolks are runny, 6 to 8 minutes.
5. Scatter with the remaining herbs and serve from the pan with torn bread.

Tip: Turkey is lean, so a tablespoon of olive oil mixed into the meat keeps the kefta tender. Serve it in a clay tagine on a diffuser if you have one.

Nutrition per serving

Adapted from Tara's Multicultural Table.

You might also like

Moroccan Chicken Tagine with Apricots55 min · 855 kcal · 62 g proteinHarira (Moroccan Tomato, Lentil & Chickpea Soup)60 min · 475 kcal · 21 g proteinChermoula Fish Tagine with Potatoes, Peppers & Olives60 min · 575 kcal · 41 g proteinBaghrir (Thousand-Hole Semolina Pancakes) with Honey Butter50 min · 515 kcal · 10 g proteinChicken Pastilla with Cinnamon-Sugared Almonds120 min · 720 kcal · 43 g proteinWeeknight Turkey & Bean Chili40 min · 390 kcal · 27 g proteinGreek Turkey Meatballs with Lemon Orzo40 min · 765 kcal · 42 g proteinTurkey Keema Matar with Warm Naan35 min · 820 kcal · 60 g protein