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Oven roasted beef meatballs and cherry tomatoes in oven poof skillet garnish with chopped parsley

Beef meatballs and cherry tomatoes in the oven

Spicy roasted beef meatballs with added traditional Italian seasoning, cinnamon and nutmeg for a bit of intrigue and yogurt for moisture and rich taste.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 serving
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Calories: 365
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 300 grams cherry tomatoes + 2 tablespoon olive oil to coat
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
Spice blend
  • 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon chilli flakes
  • 2 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Meatballs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup onion, finely diced
  • 1 ½ teaspoona sea salt, ½ teaspoon separated
  • 1 ½ pounda ground beef
  • ½ cup bread crumbs
  • ½ cup plain thick yogurt
  • 1 large egg + 1 yolk, lightly beaten

Equipment

  • heavy duty, ovenproof and broiler proof frying pan or baking dish

Method
 

  1. Position the oven rack at the second upper shelf and then, preheat the oven to 400℉.
Spice blend
  1. Crush the fennel seeds using a spice grinder, pestle and mortar or simply place the fennel seeds on a chopping board and gently rock and roll using your knife until finely crushed. Combine with the rest of the spices.
    Ground fennel seeds in the pestle and morar
Make the meatballs
  1. Place the yogurt, egg and 1 yolk in a bowl and whisk to combine.
    Yogurt and egg mixture in a white bowl.
  2. Heat the olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-low heat. Once heated, add the onion, a teaspoon of the spice blend, ½ teaspoon of salt and cook while stirring once in a while until the onion is translucent for about 3 minutes. Immediately, transfer the cooked onion to a bowl to cool completely.
    Sauteed diced onion with spice blend in a stainless steel pan.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, add the ground beef, bread crumbs, yogurt, eggs, the remaining salt, the remaining spice blend and the cooled onion. Mix with your hands until just combined, avoid over mixing.
    Ground beef, yogurt and egg mixture, bread crumbs, spice blend and sauteed onion in a glass mixing bowl.
  4. Divide the meat mixture into 16 portions and gently shape it into a ball. Coat the skillet with two tablespoons of olive oil and arrange the meatballs in a single layer. Scatter the tomatoes all around letting them fall in between the meatballs.
    Meatballs and cherry tomatoes in oven proof skillet.
  5. Place in the oven and roast for 15 minutes. Then turn on the broiler to high and roast until the meatballs are browned and the tomatoes got blistered for about 5 minutes. Serve hot with your favorite side dish.
    Oven roasted beef meatballs and cherry tomatoes in oven poof skillet garnish with chopped parsley

Notes

▶︎Once you turned on your broiler, don't go anywhere as the heat of the oven varies from one oven to another. As soon as the meat is nicely browned and the tomatoes are beautifully blistered, take it out from the oven.