Meatball, Tomato and Egg Tagine with Lemon Saffron Couscous ~ a classic Moroccan dish.
A tagine, or rich North African stew, is cooked in a vessel of the same name: an earthenware pot with a conical top that lets out steam. If you don’t have a tagine, and you probably don’t, it can be cooked in a cast iron skillet, or stock pot, like I’ve done here.
There are more tagine recipes than you can count, but this one caught my eye and sounded too good to pass up—tender Moroccan beef and lamb meatballs in a spiced tomato gravy, finished off with eggs gently poached in the sauce. I added the Lemon Saffron couscous to round out the meal, but traditionally it would be served directly from the pan, and eaten with the hands, using bread to scoop it up. The meatballs can be formed ahead to make it more convenient.
The meatballs get browned quickly on all sides, then simmered in the rich tomato sauce spiced with fragrant cinnamon, cumin, paprika, and cayenne.
What makes this dish special, in my opinopn, is the finishing touch—one egg for each serving is gently poached in the sauce. The Lemon Saffron Couscous looks like a burst of sunshine on the side, and has quite a bit of lemon flavor to it. If you’ve got any Preserved Lemons, feel free to add them, too.
Recipe adapted from Paula Wolfert
Meatball, Tomato and Egg Tagine with Lemon Saffron Couscous
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 1/2 lb ground lamb
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, minced
- 1/3 cup parsley, minced
- 1/3 cup fresh coriander, minced
- 3/4 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 Tbsp olive oil, for frying
For the sauce
- 1 28 oz can good quality crushed Italian tomatoes, I used San Marzano
- 1 or 2 whole tomatoes, chopped (Optional, I like the added texture)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup fresh coriander leaves, rough chopped
- 4 eggs
For the Lemon saffron couscous
- 1 lb couscous
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp saffron threads
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- juice of 2 lemons
- zest of 2 lemons
Instructions
For the meatballs
- Combine all the ingredients together, except the oil. Don't over work the meat, but make sure everything gets well blended. Form into small, 1 inch balls. Brown the meatballs on all sides in the oil. Set aside.
For the sauce
- Put all of the sauce ingredients except the coriander leaves and the eggs in a heavy pot and heat to a simmer. Cook the sauce for about 30 minutes until thickened. I covered it for the first half and uncovered it for the second. Add 1/2 cup water if your sauce seems too thick.
- Put the meatballs into the sauce, cover and simmer gently for another 5 to 10 minute, just to cook the meat through.
- Poach the eggs gently in the sauce until set. You can also poach the eggs separately if you want a neater appearance to the finished dish. It's up to you.
- Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve with Lemon Saffron Couscous.
For the lemon saffron couscous
- Put the water in a saucepan and add the saffron threads, crushing them between your fingers as you add them. Heat the water and saffron just to a simmer, then turn off the heat and let it steep for 10 minutes.
- Add the oil, lemon juice, zest, and salt, and bring the water back to a boil. Add the couscous and mix well. Turn off the heat, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes.
- Fluff well with a fork and serve alongside the tagine.
May I use all beef, or possibly beef and pork with good results? I’m not a big fan of lamb.
I’m sure that would be fine Genevieve – let me know how it turns out!
It turned out great! I accidentally over cooked my eggs a bit though. Also, I cut bac a bit on the cinnamon in the sauce.
Thanks for sharing.
I would post a picture but I don’t see that option.
I used all beef.
I wish there were that option here, but you can definitely add one on facebook if you want, I’d love to see it!
I love meatball atgines. Especially love the idea of the lemon couscous!
I love tangines and the never-ending variety. Really inspired by the addition of the egg – all just melds together beautifully.
That egg really does make the whole thing extra special!
Never thought eggs would go in a stew type dish but hey it looks delicious.
This is the second Middle Eastern recipe I’ve made lately where eggs get poached right in the stew, I love the concept!
Sue: it is immensely early here, as i’m looking at this. And yet, i want this NOW; like for breakfast. which is inappropriate on some level, i’m sure, but there’s an egg in there, and i just purchased saffron threads the other day. this is beautiful.
Yes, there is an egg, and I say that qualifies it for breakfast. I’m on a saffron kick lately, I think the color is amazing.
the lemon saffron couscous sounds perfect and i love the idea of the hint of lemon in it! Beautiful and delicious
I love the lemon saffron combination, too, and I think I’ll try it with other grains. The saffron color is so lemony!
Wow, this looks amazing. I’m so hungry now after reading this and seeing the wonderful photos. Great blog.
New follower.
I really need to thaw out some beef and get cooking in my tagine.