Persian-Influenced Meatballs

Name: Persian-Influenced Meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 18 meatballs
Cuisine: Persian Plateau & Isfahan
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 0.25 cup rice meal; 1 egg; 1 tsp dried rose petals; 0.25 tsp ground cinnamon; 0.125 tsp saffron thread; 2 tbsp fresh cilantro; 2 tbsp fresh Italian parsley; 0.5 tsp salt; 0.5 tsp cracked black pepper; 2 tbsp date molasses; 2 tbsp dried barberries; 0.333 cup finely minced yellow onion; 1 garlic clove; 2 tbsp almonds; plain yogurt; date molasses; saffron thread; dried rose petals

Beef, rice meal and rose petals baked in the oven and spiced with cinnamon and saffron. Serve with bowl of plain yogurt.

40 min · Serves 18 · Medium

Method

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Time: Prep 15 min · Cook 25 min · 40 min total
Difficulty: medium

1
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine all the meatball ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix just until combine.
2
Shape into about 18 meatballs and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for about 25 minutes or until brown.
25 min
3
Transfer to a serving platter and serve with a bowl of plain yogurt. Drizzle about 1 tablespoon of the date molasses on top of the yogurt (do not stir the date molasses into the yogurt) and garnish with a few saffron threads and a light crumble of dried rose petals.