Dawood Basha (Meatballs) with Rice

Ingredients

• 1/2 kg minced meat
• 2 onions, finely chopped
• pinch of salt
• pinch of ground cinnamon
• pinch of seven-spice mix or black pepper
• 3 onions (for frying)
• 1 cup tomato juice
• 5 tomatoes, chopped
• vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons fine breadcrumbs

Method

1. Mix the minced meat with the finely chopped onion and the breadcrumbs.
2. Add salt, the spice mix and ground cinnamon to the meat mixture and combine well.
3. Shape the mixture into small balls. Wetting your hands slightly with water will make shaping easier.
4. Fry the sliced onions in oil until golden and soft.
5. When the onions are soft, add the meatballs and cook them together over low heat.
6. Add the peeled, chopped tomatoes and let them cook with the meat and onions for a few minutes.
7. Add the tomato juice (or substitute tomato paste plus 1 cup water), and adjust salt and spices to taste.
8. Simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes until the meatballs are fully cooked and the sauce thickens slightly.
   Timers: 20 min
9. Optionally fry some pine nuts and use them to garnish the Dawood Basha.
10. Serve the Dawood Basha with cooked white rice or rice with toasted vermicelli. Yogurt on the side makes a nice addition.