Description
Tender Lebanese-style meatballs in a fragrant tomato sauce with potatoes, served over rice—a comforting and hearty Middle Eastern dish perfect for family meals.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (lean or mix of lean and fatty)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs or 1 slice soaked bread, squeezed dry
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped (for sauce)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup diced tomatoes or 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef broth or water
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice (basmati or jasmine)
- 3 cups water or broth (for cooking rice)
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or cilantro (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix ground beef with onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, cinnamon, allspice, salt, and pepper. Form into walnut-sized meatballs.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Brown meatballs on all sides. Transfer to a plate.
- In the same pot, sauté additional chopped onion and garlic until fragrant. Stir in tomato paste, cook briefly, then add diced tomatoes or tomato sauce, broth, salt, and pepper.
- Return meatballs to the pot, add cubed potatoes, and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat for 20–25 minutes until meatballs and potatoes are tender and sauce thickens.
- Meanwhile, rinse rice until water runs clear. Combine rice and water or broth in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 15–18 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Fluff with fork and let rest.
- Serve rice on plates, topped with meatballs, potatoes, and sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley or cilantro.
Notes
- For richer flavor, mix ground beef with lamb.
- Chill meatballs briefly before browning to help them hold shape.
- Substitute potatoes with carrots or zucchini if preferred.
- Use crushed tomatoes or add a splash of red wine for deeper sauce flavor.
- Great for meal prep—flavors deepen after a day in the fridge.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (meatballs, sauce, potatoes, and rice)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg