Moorish Pork and Beef Meatballs

“Meatballs are one of my favourite things to cook. They’re a great way to play around with different flavours,” says José Pizarro.

These pork and beef meatballs are easy to cook for a quick dinner, and really different to any other meatball dishes.

Read: Pork and Ricotta Meatballs with Polenta

Serves: 4
Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 banana shallot, finely chopped
• 300g beef mince
• 300g pork mince
• 2 fat garlic cloves, grated
• 1 teaspoon hot smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• handful of chopped coriander, plus extra to garnish
• 30g pine nuts, toasted
• 250g baby spinach
• 30g sultanas
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• crusty bread, to serve

For the yoghurt:

• 300g Greek yoghurt
• 1 garlic clove, grated
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped mint leaves
• pinch of saffron threads, soaked in 1 tsp boiling water
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C or 160°C fan. Heat one tablespoon of the oil in a small frying pan over a low heat and gently fry the shallot for 10 minutes until soft. Set aside and allow to cool.

Read: Polpettine alla Toscano (Tuscan Meatballs)

In a large bowl, mix together both types of mince, along with the garlic, cooled shallot, spices and chopped coriander. Season well and shape into 16 walnut-sized balls.

Heat the remaining oil in a large ovenproof frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and fry until they are golden, then transfer to the oven for five minutes to finish cooking. Remove to a warm plate and cover loosely with kitchen foil.

Meanwhile, make the spiced saffron yoghurt. In a bowl, mix together the yoghurt, garlic and mint and season well, then stir in the saffron and its soaking water.

Place the frying pan you used for the meatballs over a high heat and add the spinach and sultanas, along with a small splash of water. Mix together and allow the spinach to wilt and mingle with the cooking juices from the meatballs. Add the pine nuts, then return the meatballs and any resting juices back into the pan and toss everything together.

Read: Rustic Meatballs with Creamy Mash

Divide the yoghurt between four plates and top with the pork and beef meatballs and spinach. Serve with crusty bread.

The Spanish Home Kitchen: Simple, Seasonal Recipes And Memories From My Home by José Pizarro is published by Hardie Grant, photography by Emma Lee. Available now.

– With PA

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