Tunisian meatball sauce recipe

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while pork is often less expensive.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Avocado oil offers healthy fats, while canola is budget-friendly.

bread crumbs

🥗Healthier: oats

💰Cheaper: crushed crackers

Oats provide fiber, while crackers are often cheaper.

tomato sauce

🥗Healthier: homemade tomato puree

💰Cheaper: canned tomatoes

Homemade is fresher, while canned is more economical.

Heat a saucepan over medium heat and drizzle with olive oil.

Add chopped onion and harissa, cooking for 2-3 minutes until the onion changes color.

Add spices, tomato sauce, and tomato paste, then bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to medium-low and let cook for 10 minutes.

Add hot water and stir, letting it cook for at least 30 minutes.

In a bowl, mix ground beef, chopped onion, spices, and dry mint until well combined.

Add spinach and bread crumbs to the beef mixture and mix well.

Form the mixture into large meatballs.

Add the meatballs to the sauce without touching them, cover, and let cook for a couple of minutes.

Add cooked chickpeas to the sauce and cover, cooking for a few more minutes until meatballs are fully cooked.

Add pepper to the sauce and let cook for a couple of minutes to enhance flavor.

Return the meatballs to the sauce and let cook for 2-3 minutes before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens