Dawood Basha (Meatballs in Tomato Sauce)

Ingredients

• 1 kg finely ground meat
• 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs (crushed biscuits)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• Salt
• A pinch of cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon of seven-spice mix (medium)
• 2 onions, grated and well drained
• The sauce:
• 5 cloves garlic
• Pearl onions or small whole onions, peeled
• 1 kg crushed tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• Optional hot chili powder
• A pinch of seven-spice mix
• 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
• Nuts for garnish
• Method:
• This Dawood Basha recipe and method was shared by a friend and cook on Shou Tabkhin Today:
• Liyal Fawaz
• Click Liyal’s name to visit her page on our site.
• For more meatball recipes by Liyal see: Vegetable curry rice with meatballs

Method

1. Mix all the meat ingredients well and shape into balls.
2. Fry the Dawood Basha meatballs in a little oil until they brown.
3. Remove them from the pan when cooked and add the pearl onions to the same pan.
4. Sauté the onions until they turn golden.
5. Remove the onions and set aside. In the same pan, add the sliced garlic and sauté.
6. When the garlic softens, add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, a pinch of pepper and seven-spice; simmer over medium heat until it comes to a boil.
7. When the sauce thickens slightly, add back the onions and meatballs you set aside. Let Dawood Basha simmer until the sauce reduces and the meat is fully cooked.
8. Finally, drizzle pomegranate molasses on top and turn off the heat.
9. Serve Dawood Basha with white rice and garnish with fried nuts when serving.