This North African Meatball Stew Recipe is super easy to make and absolutely delicious.
I found this perfect comfort food recipe a few years back in my Weight Watchers Ready, Set, Go Cookbook.
Serve this hearty meatball stew on top of rice or couscous with a side of biscuits and life is good!
North African Meatball Stew
If you’re like me, even if you’re trying to eat healthy, you want to eat something substantial that’s going to stick to your ribs.
A healthy lifestyle always includes a good amount of fruits, veggies and drinking lots of water.
However, for me at least, in order to stick to a healthy eating regimen, I have to include meals that are satisfying.
Doing this goes a long way toward maintaining a healthy lifestyle for the long term.
In addition, if you follow Weight Watchers, a serving of this dinner recipe is only 5 WW SmartPoints.
According to Wikipedia.org, “North Africa, the northernmost part of Africa along the Mediterranean Sea includes the nations of Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.
Over several centuries traders, travelers, invaders, migrants and immigrants all have influenced the cuisine of North Africa.”
Needless to say, I’ve always loved Mediterranean influenced cuisine, so I knew I would love this dish.
In addition to the cookbook mentioned above, The Food of Morocco, contains more deliciously mouthwatering North African recipes, such as:
- Berber Skillet Bread
- Spiced Harira
- Savory Stuffed Lamb with Couscous & Dates
Ingredients
The ingredients for this delicious recipe can be easily found at any of your local grocery stores:
- Lean Ground Beef
- Fresh Cilantro
- Ground Cumin
- Salt
- Ground Black Pepper
- Olive Oil
- Onion
- Garlic
- Diced Tomatoes
- Tomato Paste
- Lemon Juice
- Fresh Mint
Step-By-Step Meatball Stew Recipe Directions
Step 1: Combine Beef & Spices
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meat with cilantro, 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of pepper.
Step 2: Shape Into Meatballs
With damp hands, shape your meatball mixture into 1 inch size meatballs.
This mix should make approximately 24 meatballs.
Step 3: Cook Onion, Garlic, Tomatoes, Water, Tomato Paste, & Remaining Spices
Heat oil in a large pot or large Dutch oven on your stove top over medium heat.
Then, sauté onions, stirring, until softened, for about 5-10 minutes.
After that, add the 2 cloves of the minced garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, for about 30 seconds.
Then, stir in tomatoes, water, tomato paste, and remaining 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper and bring to a boil.
Step 4: Add Meatballs to Skillet, Cook Through, & Add Lemon Juice & Mint
Now, add your meatballs to the skillet.
Reduce to medium high heat and simmer, covered, until meatballs are cooked through and sauce is thickened, about 30 minutes.
Also, if you want to prepare steps 1 through 3 ahead of time and add it all to a slow cooker, that works too!
Finally, stir in lemon juice and sprinkle with mint.
Substitutions
The recipe suggests that these tender meatballs be served over top of 2/3 of a cup of cooked whole wheat couscous which would add an additional 3 SmartPoints.
Couscous is a very common side dish in North African cuisine and I love me some couscous!
However, since my son won’t touch couscous, I opted to serve it over some jasmine rice.
Other substitutions for couscous can include:
- Medium potatoes, cooked
- Cooked Quinoa
- Pasta
The Recipe Results
It turned out amazingly good!
We all absolutely love the Mediterranean taste of it!
I have to say the cumin and mint, which are common North African cuisine staples, really gave this dish the best flavor!
What to Serve with North African Meatball Stew
This dish would be really good served with:
- Steamed Carrots
- Roasted Zucchini
- Green Beans
- Crusty Bread
Additional Ingredients You Can Use in This Recipe:
- Diced Green Bell Pepper
- Fresh Parsley
Storing Leftovers
If you have any leftover stew, allow it to cool to room temperature.
Then place it in an airtight container (preferably glass) with a lid.
The stew will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
If you’re freezing your leftovers, add to a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
North African Meatball Stew Recipe
North African Meatball Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef, Lean, 5% fat or less
- 2 tbsp Fresh Cilantro, finely chopped
- 2 tsp Ground Cumin
- ½ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 2 tsp Olive Oil
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 1 cup Tomatoes, diced, I used canned
- ¾ cup Water
- 3 tbsp Tomato Paste
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice, I used bottled
- 2 tbsp Fresh Mint, chopped
Instructions
- Mix together beef, cilantro, 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of pepper in large bowl just until well combined. With damp hands, shape mixture into 24 (1 inch) meatballs.
- Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes, water, tomato paste, and remaining 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; bring to boil.
- Add meatballs to skillet. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until meatballs are cooked through and sauce is thickened, about 30 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and sprinkle with mint.
Notes
Here are a few more delicious stew recipes:
- 30 of the Most Iconic Maryland Food and Drink - March 9, 2024
- Baked Crab Casserole Recipe - February 6, 2024
- 44 Epic Summer Camps in Frederick MD (2024) - January 27, 2024
This looks absolutely delicious and different–can’t wait to try it!!! Thanks!!!!
It really is good & healthy too!