Iris’s Mediterranean Meatballs and Chickpeas
Lalush by Iris
Jul 4, 2020
Published On
Rich Mediterranean flavors in one pot that you and your family will absolutely love
Iris’s Tip
These delicious dish can be made gluten-free too.
Ingredients
Ingredients for Meatballs:
1 grated onion
1 peeled and grated potato or sweet potato
1 lb. of ground beef
3 crushed garlic cloves
1/4 cup of chopped parsley
1 tablespoon of oil
1 egg
1 tablespoon of bread crumbs /gluten-free Panko
1 tablespoon of baking powder
Season with salt, white pepper, freshly ground black pepper and chicken soup seasoning mix
A pinch of the following: nutmeg, cumin, turmeric and cinnamon
Ingredients for sauce:
3 tablespoons of oil
1 tomato, cut into cubes
3 garlic cloves, sliced
1 red pepper, cut to strips
3 cups of chickpeas that have been soaked for 8 hours and boiled for 1/2 hour or 2 cans of rinsed chickpeas
1 tablespoon of tomato paste
Season to taste with salt, white pepper, black pepper, paprika in oil, a pinch of turmeric and 1 teaspoon of chicken soup seasoning mix.
2 cups of water
Optional: add 1/4 teaspoon or more of red pepper flakes
Directions
1. If you are using dry chickpeas, soak them overnight, strain, boil for 1/2 hour in fresh water and strain again. If you are using canned chickpeas, wash and strain.
2. In a mixing bowl, mix together the ground beef, grated onion, grated potato, chopped parsley, crushed garlic, a tablespoon of oil, egg, a tablespoon of bread crumbs/gluten-free crumbs and the baking powder.
3. Season with salt, white pepper, black pepper, chicken seasoning mix, meatballs spices mix and a pinch of nutmeg.
4. Mix all of the seasonings and meat together; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes.
5. Shape the meatballs, placing them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; bake at a 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 180 degrees Celsius preheated oven for 10 minutes.
6. In a wide skillet, saute the sliced pepper with the oil; add the sliced garlic and tomatoes.
7. Add the chickpeas, water, tomato paste, and spices and mix.
8. Add the meatballs; close the lid and cook for about an hour on medium heat. You can also transfer to a Pyrex dish, cover with foil and bake in the oven for an hour.
9. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot.