Shared by Charles Dabah
Shared by Charles Dabah
Kiftahs (Meatballs in Sour Tomato Sauce)
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Kiftahs (Meatballs in Sour Tomato Sauce)
Yield: 4 to 6 servingsFamily Journey
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This recipe was shared by Charles Dabbah. Read more about his family in " A Grandmother’s Syrian Legacy Wrapped Up in Grape Leaves" and try his recipes for ou', yebra, and chicken with meshi sfeeha.
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup ou’
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- ¼ cup short-grain rice, rinsed and drained
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 egg
Preparation
Step 1
Make the sauce: Combine the tomatoes, water, ou’, and salt in a pot. Place over medium to high heat. Bring the mixture up to a boil and lower the heat to medium low to maintain a steady simmer. Continue to cook for about 20 to 30 minutes until the flavors combine and the sauce thickens.
Step 2
Meanwhile make the meatballs: Combine ground beef, rice, salt, all spice and egg in a large bowl. Use your hands to mix ingredients together to ensure that they are all well distributed. Shape about ½ tablespoon of the meat mixture into a ball and tuck it into the tomato sauce in the pot. Continue shaping and placing the meatballs into the sauce.
Step 3
Place a lid ajar and cook the meatballs in the sauce, maintaining a simmer. Cook for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste sauce in the middle of cooking, and correct for salt and sweet and sour levels. Add more salt if needed, a bit of sugar if you want it sweeter, or more ou’ if you want it tangier.
Step 4
Serve hot over white rice.
