Ray's go-to middle eastern meatballs
“I’ve loved discovering traditional Middle Eastern flavours, they really connect me with my roots. My Meatballs dish is simple but bursting with flavour, and the seasonal roast pumpkin is extra satisfying. It’s a great winter-warming Go-To.” – Ray
Ingredients
Method
Ingredients
- 500g pumpkin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 500g beef mince
- 1 small brown onion, finely chopped
- Handful of parsley, finely chopped, plus extra to garnish
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Handful of toasted pine nuts, to serve
- Slices of crusty bread, to serve
Tahini Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons tahini (or any nut butter)
- 2 tablespoons yoghurt
- 2 tablespoons water
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan forced). Line a roasting pan with baking paper.
- Cut the pumpkin into 4cm chunks, place in a large bowl. Add the olive oil, mix well to coat the pumpkin, then season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the roasting pan and roast in the oven for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place the beef, onion, parsley, allspice and cinnamon in a large bowl. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and a good grind of black pepper, then mix well to combine.
- Using your hands, roll the beef mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs. Transfer to a roasting pan and roast in the oven for 12 minutes or until cooked through.
- While the meatballs are cooking, make the tahini sauce. Mix all the ingredients together In a bowl until they form a smooth consistency.
Cook’s Tips:
You can make the meatballs earlier in the day – just cover and keep in the fridge until ready to cook.
If the tahini sauce is too thick, add a dash of water.
To Serve:
Arrange the pumpkin on a dish. Place the meatballs on top, drizzle over the tahini sauce. Sprinkle with the pine nuts and garnish with the extra parsley. Serve with crusty bread.Discover more of our easy Go-Tos
