Harissa meatballs with black eyed beans

Ingredients:

For the meat balls;

500g minced beef

1 tsp of Harissa paste or dry Harissa spice

1tsp of pomegranate seeds (get from most Indian shops)

1tsp of tandoori spice mix

2 chopped green chillies

4 sprigs of thyme (remove from stalk and only use the leaves)

1 diced medium size red onion 

Small bunch of chopped coriander and parsley

1 minced garlic

1 duck egg (optional) You can use any egg  but I prefer the light and fluffiness that duck eggs lend to the dish.

A pinch of salt to taste

1/2 a tsp of freshly ground black pepper

For the beans

300g cooked black eyed beans

1 medium red onion

1 tsp of cumin

2 chopped green chillies

1tsp of coconut oil

For the Sumac raw salsa

Dice 3 large sized sun ripened juicy tomato

A small bunch of chopped parsley 

1 small diced red onion

3 tsp of extra virgin oil

1 chopped green chilli ( you can deseed the chillies to remove it's hotness and enjoy it's subtle kick) 

Personally I prefer the extra kick

Dice half a cucumber

1 tsp of Sauvignon Blanc vinegar ( I got mine from Sainsbury's) or any other white vinegar 

Salt

Pepper

1 tsp of Sumac

Method;

In a bowl add the minced meat, pomegranate seeds, tandoori spice, Harissa spice, diced onions, chillies, minced garlic, coriander and parsley. 

Add the duck egg and using your fingers mix everything together till it's well combined and all the herbs and spices are evenly distributed. 

Roll the mix into a big ball. Using a table spoon (to help create an even sized meat balls), scoop a mixture and roll in between your palm to create medium sized balls as below

You should get 20 or 21 (in my case) individual portions of meat balls which will comfortably feed 4. 

Let the meat balls rest for at least 20 minutes to allow the flavours to permeate and also bring it to room temperature.

In a pre heated oven grill of gas mark 200*c, place the meat balls in the middle of your oven grill and cook for 7 minutes. Leave the meat to rest for 5 minutes. Remove the meat balls to a separate bowl and don't discard the meat juices. We will be using the juicies later.

Beans

Place a saucepan on a medium heat with the coconut oil. Once the oil is medium hot add the diced onion and cook for about a minute. Add the chillies and fry for a further minute. Add the cumin and cook for 30 sec. 

Add the beans and it's juices to the sauce and cook for 5 minutes. Turn the heat off and pour the mixture into the meat juices.

Mix the beans and juices together.

For the Raw Sumac salsa combine all the ingredients apart from the sumac in a bowl. Mix well and sprinkle the sumac on top and serve.

Mix together the beans, Sumac salsa and  meatballs. Serve with your favourite white or red. Best still freshly brewed Palm Wine (African things) . 

Voila! Enjoy and please don't forget to leave a review of the recipe.