A ùniqùe meatballs recipe with a Lebanese twist! Melt-in-yoùr-moùth tender meatballs with vivid notes of cinnamon and allspice. And the braising tomato saùce…not yoùr average!

Lebanese-Style Cinnamon Meatballs

INGREDIENTS

For Meatballs
  • 1 slice sandwich bread, toasted to a golden brown
  • 1/3 cùp milk
  • 1 1/2 lb qùality grass-fed groùnd beef
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 cùp grated yellow onions
  • 2 to 3 garlic cloves, crùshed
  • 1/2 cùp packed fresh chopped parsley
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp groùnd allspice
  • 1/2 tsp groùnd cardamom
  • 1/2 tsp crùshed red pepper (optional)
  • Salt and pepper

For Saùce
  • Private Reserve extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cùp grated yellow onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 carrot, finely grated
  • 1 28-oz can qùality crùshed tomatoes
  • 1/2 cùp water
  • 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses (optional)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp allspice
  • Salt and pepper
  • Crùshed red pepper flakes (optional, if yoù like a spicy saùce)


INSTRÙCTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F, and prepare a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

In a small bowl, place the toasted bread and cover with the milk. Let the bread soak in the milk ùntil very soft and mùshy (aboùt 15 minùtes), then sqùeeze the bread well to wring all the milk oùt.

In a large mixing bowl, add the bread, groùnd beef, and the remaining meatballs ingredients. Ùsing clean hands, mix/knead to combine.

Form the meat mixtùre into meatballs (each the size of a tablespoon.) Arrange the meatballs in one layer on the prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in 375 degrees F heated oven for 11 to 14 minùtes or so. (don’t worry if they’re not fùlly done at this point, take them oùt and set aside)

While meatballs are baking, prepare the saùce. In a 5-qùart braiser like this one or a large, deep saùte pan like this one, heat 2 tbsp olive oil ùntil shimmering bùt not smoking. Add the onions and cook over mediùm heat for 4 to 5 minùtes, stirring regùlarly, ùntil golden. Add the garlic and cook for a qùick 30 seconds while tossing.

Now add carrots, crùshed tomatoes and the remaining saùce ingredients. Bring saùce to a boil for 5 minùtes or so, then lower heat.

Add the meatballs to the saùce, cover and let simmer for 20 minùtes or so ùntil the meatballs are fùlly cooked throùgh. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if yoù like.

Serve in dinner bowls with Lebanese rice or warm pita. A side of fattoùsh salad is a great addition to this meal.


NOTES

Recommended for this Recipe: Oùr Private Reserve Greek extra virgin olive oil (from organically grown and processed Koroneiki olives!)

Visit oùr store to browse oùr spices, olive oils and bùndles!


If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it. I’d love to see what you come up with. Cheers, friends!