Meatballs With Chick Peas & Preserved Lemon -- Morocco

Ingredients

For The Meatballs

• 3 cups ground chicken
• 1 medium brown onion, grated (on very finely chopped)
• 4 slices wholemeal bread (store bought, or use 3 slices of homemade)
• 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons ras el hanout spice mix
• 1 beaten egg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 pinch black pepper
• olive oil or sunflower oil (for frying)

For The Sauce

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 400 g canned chick-peas, rinsed & drained
• 1/2-1 preserved lemons
• 2 liters water
• 1 chicken stock cube
• 6 tablespoons fresh cilantro
• 3 tablespoons fresh parsley
• 4 teaspoons ras el hanout spice mix
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
• salt
• olive oil or sunflower oil (for frying)

Directions

1. 1

   To Make The Meatballs:.

2. 2

   Tear the bread into tiny pieces - to make breadcrumbs.

3. 3

   In a large bowl, mix all of the meatball ingredients. Use your hands to squich the mixture together until it is mixed really well (I usually wear gloves to do this!).

4. 4

   Allow the mixture to stand for 5 minutes then taking a tablespoon at a time, roll into meatballs.

5. 5

   Gently fry them in a little olive oil or sunflower oil, until they are golden on all sides. Drain on kitchen paper & set aside.

6. 6

   To Make The Sauce:.

7. 7

   Fry the onion in a little oil. When it is a pale golden colour, add the spices & cook for a further minute.

8. 8

   Remove the flesh from the preserved lemon. Wash well to remove some of the saltiness then cut very finely. Add the lemon & the rest of the ingredients (except the cilantro & the lemon juice) to the pan.

9. 9

   Cover & simmer for 1 hour.

10. 10

    After an hour, remove the lid. Reduce the sauce until you have just enough to serve the meatballs in - you don't want too much but you don't want to serve dry meatballs either! When the sauce is the right consistency, add the cilantro & lemon juice & cook for a minute.

11. 11

    Sprinkle more finely chopped cilantro over the top & serve.