Kofta Mishmisheya (Lamb Meatballs in Apricot Sauce)

Name: Kofta Mishmisheya (Lamb Meatballs in Apricot Sauce)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Iraqi Mesopotamian
Ingredients: 1 large onion; 3 tbsp vegetable oil; 1.5 lb ground lamb; 1 tsp dried lime powder; 0.25 tsp ground cloves; 0.25 tsp allspice; salt and pepper; 3 tbsp tomato paste; 7 oz dried apricots; 3 tbsp currants; 1 lemon; 1 tsp sugar

Lamb, apricots and currants come together in these Iraqi meatballs, fragrant with dried lime and allspice and simmered on the stove.

1 hr · Serves 4 · Easy

Method

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Time: Prep 15 min · Cook 45 min · 60 min total
Difficulty: easy

1
In a large frying pan, fry the onion in oil until golden. With your hands, work the meat into a paste with the dried lime, cloves, allspice, 3/4 tsp salt, and pepper, and roll into walnut-sized balls.
2
Add them to the pan and cook, turning them to brown all over. Stir in the tomato paste, add the drained apricots and the currants or raisins, and cover with water.
3
Simmer about 25 minutes. Crush the apricots a bit with a fork, add lemon juice and sugar and a little salt and pepper, and simmer for another 20 minutes. Serve over rice.