Christine Benlafquih
This popular Moroccan dish features meatballs (kefta mkaoura) cooked in a zesty, homemade shakshuka-like tomato sauce. Many cooks like to present the meatball tagine with eggs poached directly in the sauce, but this addition is optional. For a little extra heat, add some ground cayenne or fresh chili peppers.
Although a clay or ceramic tagine 
Moroccan tradition is to gather round the tagine and eat communally from the dish, using pieces of Moroccan bread to scoop up the meatballs and sauce. For a truly authentic experience, consider serving the kefta tagine with Moroccan mint tea.
A well-loved classic Moroccan recipe for seasoned meatballs in zesty tomato sauce. The meatballs are traditionally shaped quite small and many Moroccans like to poach eggs in the sauce just before serving.
Serve with crusty bread for dipping into the sauce and scooping up meatballs by hand.
- 1 lb. ground beef or lamb (or mix of the two)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped or grated
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp turmeric (optional)
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- 2 lbs ripe tomatoes
- 1/4 cup olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 small green pepper, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed or finely chopped
- 1.5 tsp paprika
- 1.5 tsp cumin
- 1.5 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (optional) OR
- 2 chili peppers (optional)
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley
- 2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro
- 4 eggs (free range or beldi eggs are preferred)
- green pitted olives (to taste)
- fresh parsley or cilantro sprigs
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Combine the ground meat with the onion, herbs and spices. Use your hands to knead the mixture for a minute or two until the seasoning is evenly distributed.
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Take small portions of the mixture and shape into petite, cocktail-sized meatballs. I tend to make mine the size of cherries but you can make them as small as marbles or, if short on time, as large as 1 1/4 inches (3 cm) in diameter.
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Cover and set aside.
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Peel, seed and chop the tomatoes. Set aside. (Or, if the tomatoes are very soft, cut them in half crosswise, remove the seeds, and then grate the flesh to a pulp; discard the skin.)
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Place a skillet or the base of a medium- to large-sized tagine over medium-low heat. When hot, add the oil, onion and green pepper. Saute for several minutes.
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Add the garlic and saute for another minute or two, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
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Add the chopped or grated tomatoes, herbs and spices. Stir to combine. Allow the tomatoes to come to a simmer then cover and cook for about 15 to 30 minutes, until the tomatoes soften and a sauce begins to form.
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Use the back of a spoon to crush the tomatoes and add the chili peppers, if using. Cover and continue cooking for another 15 to 30 minutes, until a rich tomato sauce forms. Stir occasionally, adding a little water if necessary to smooth out the sauce.
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When the consistency of the sauce is to your liking, taste and adjust seasoning. Add the meatballs. Cover and continue simmering for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the meatballs are just cooked through.
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The meatball tagine can be served now; or continue to the next steps to add olives and/or eggs.
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If adding olives, do so now, allowing time for them to heat through before serving.
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If garnishing the tagine with eggs, carefully add them over the meatballs, taking care not to break the yolks. Cover and continue simmering the tagine just until the whites are firm and the yolk is beginning to set.
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Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro and serve directly from the tagine or skillet.
- Cooking time for the tomato sauce can vary greatly depending on ripeness and juiciness of the tomatoes, as well as your choice of cooking vessels.
- When cooking in a traditional clay or ceramic tagine over any heat source other than gas, be sure to use a diffuser. If cooking over gas without a diffuser, be sure the flames don't touch the bottom of the tagine.
- Take care to avoid overcooking the meatballs or they will become tough. (Or, if you prefer a softer texture overall to your meatballs, you can deviate from Moroccan tradition and add a whole egg and 1/3 cup of breadcrumbs to the ground meat when seasoning your kefta mixture.)
- If planning to add the optional olives at the end of cooking, you may want to reduce the salt when seasoning the tomato sauce.
I’m not sure how to cook the meatballs. Do i cook them before putting them in the tomato sauce or do i put them in the tagine after with the sauce and bake them in the tagine? TIA!
Hi Christina. The meatballs are added to the tagine while raw so they can cook in the sauce. Assuming the meatballs are tiny, they shouldn’t take long to cook through.