SPICED LAMB MEATBALLS, ROAST APRICOTS & FREGULA

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Spiced lamb meatballs, roast apricots & fregula image

Make the most of late-summer apricots in our moreish spiced lamb meatball casserole, baked with juicy roast apricots and fregula or giant couscous

Provided by Esther Clark

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h5m

Number Of Ingredients 17

10 small apricots, halved and stoned
4 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely sliced
1 garlic clove, sliced
1 heaped tbsp ras el hanout
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato purée
1-2 tbsp rose harissa
350ml lamb or chicken stock
100g fregula or giant couscous
500g lamb mince
60g fresh breadcrumbs
½ tsp chilli flakes
½ tsp ground coriander
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
1 egg yolk
½ bunch of parsley, finely chopped

Steps:

  • Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Arrange the apricots on a baking tray cut-side down and roast for 10 mins. Remove from the oven and set aside.
  • Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large, shallow flameproof casserole over a low-medium heat. Cook the onion with a pinch of salt for 15 mins until golden brown and caramelised. Stir in the garlic and ras el hanout and cook for 1 min more. Tip in the tomatoes, tomato purée and harissa, and cook for another 5 mins. Stir in the stock and remove from the heat.
  • For the meatballs, combine the lamb mince, breadcrumbs, chilli, coriander, cinnamon, egg yolk and most of the parsley in a large bowl with a pinch of salt, squishing the mixture together using your hands for around 5 mins. Form into 10 meatballs, weighing for accuracy if you like. Heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and fry the meatballs for 5 mins until evenly golden.
  • Stir the fregula and some seasoning into the casserole, then nestle in the meatballs and roasted apricots. Bring to a simmer, then bake in the oven, uncovered, for 15-20 mins or until the meatballs are cooked through. Scatter with the reserved parsley before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 498 calories, Fat 25 grams fat, SaturatedFat 8 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 36 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 15 grams sugar, Fiber 7 grams fiber, Protein 29 grams protein, Sodium 1 milligram of sodium

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