Juicy Algerian beef meatballs browned until crisp, then simmered in a fragrant tomato sauce spiced with garlic and ras el hanout — comforting and full of warmth.
Tender, garlicky beef kefta browned until crisp, then simmered in a spiced tomato sauce — this Algerian classic is weeknight-friendly comfort food. The aromatic ras el hanout sauce does most of the heavy lifting, and it's wonderful mopped up with warm bread.
Prep 15 min
Cook 20 min
Total 35 min
Easy
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 4 Cloves Crushed Garlic
- 1/2 cup Onion
- To taste Salt
- To taste Pepper
- 3 Plum Tomatoes
- 1 tsp Parsley
- 1/2 cup Water
Video
Preparation
- Combine the ground beef with half of the minced garlic and 1 tablespoon of chopped onion in a large bowl, mixing with your hands until fully incorporated.
- Shape into 1½-inch oblong patties — you should get 12 to 14 meatballs.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the patties in batches until crisp on both sides and no longer pink in the centre, about 10 minutes, then set aside in a rimmed serving dish.
- Reduce the heat to medium and stir the remaining chopped onion into the drippings, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring constantly, until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the remaining garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then add the tomatoes, dried parsley and ras el hanout.
- Pour in the water and cook until the tomatoes are soft, about 5 minutes.
- Pour the tomato sauce over the meatballs to serve.
Tips from the ZestyPlate Kitchen
- Mix the meat just until combined; over-working it makes the kefta tough.
- Brown the patties well before saucing — that crust adds real depth of flavour.
- Build the sauce in the same pan to capture all the browned bits left behind.
- Let the meatballs finish in the sauce for a few minutes so they soak up the spices.
Frequently Asked Questions
A North African spice blend of warm spices like cumin, coriander, cinnamon and pepper. A good curry-style blend makes a reasonable stand-in.
Yes — lamb is traditional and delicious here, and pairs beautifully with the warm spices.
Couscous, rice, or simply plenty of crusty bread to soak up the tomato sauce.
