Mince

Beef Koftas With Hummus And A Pomegranate Salad

Name: Beef Koftas With Hummus And A Pomegranate Salad
Prep time: 24 min
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 2 - 4 people
Ingredients: 500g minced beef; 1/2 red onion, finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; 1/2 cup green olives, pitted and finely chopped; 2 tsp ras el hanout spice; 1 tsp fresh origanum leaves, finely chopped; Juice of half a lemon; 1 egg; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; Olive oil; Naan bread, for serving (optional); Pomegranate and tomato salad:; 350g exotic tomatoes, halved; 100g fresh pomegranate rubies; Zest of half a lemon; 2 Tbsp pomegranate molasses; 1 Tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; Fresh basil leaves, for garnish; Baby herb leaves, for garnish; Hummus:; 400g tinned chickpeas; Juice of 1 lemon; 4 Tbsp water; 3 Tbsp olive oil; 2 Tbsp tahini paste (see below); 3 garlic cloves; 1/2 tsp ground cumin; 1/2 tsp paprika; Salt

Recipe overview

Prep: 24 min
Cooking: 6 min
Ready in 30 min
Serves 2 - 4 people

Ingredients

500g minced beef
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 cup green olives, pitted and finely chopped
2 tsp ras el hanout spice
1 tsp fresh origanum leaves, finely chopped
Juice of half a lemon
1 egg
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil
Naan bread, for serving (optional)

Pomegranate and tomato salad::
350g exotic tomatoes, halved
100g fresh pomegranate rubies
Zest of half a lemon
2 Tbsp pomegranate molasses
1 Tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Baby herb leaves, for garnish

Hummus::
400g tinned chickpeas
Juice of 1 lemon
4 Tbsp water
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp tahini paste (see below)
3 garlic cloves
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
Salt

Tahini paste (optional to make from scratch)::
1/2 cup white sesame seeds
+-3 Tbsp olive oil

Tips and tricks

This dish can be prepared ahead of time, just cook the meatballs and re-heat the teriyaki sauce and rice before serving.

Method

To make the koftas, add the minced beef, onion, garlic, olives, ras el hanout, origanum, lemon juice and egg to a bowl, season well with salt and pepper and mix thoroughly.
Using your hands, shape the beef mixture into balls a bit smaller than the size of golf balls. The mixture should make around 20 koftas.
To help firm up the meatballs, put them on a plate, cover and place in the fridge until needed.
In the meantime, add all the hummus ingredients to a food processor/blender and blend until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your taste.
Lightly brush olive oil on the koftas and grill in a frying pan, turning occasionally until cooked through and brown on all sides, about 6 minutes.
Make the salad by whisking together the pomegranate molasses, olive oil and lemon zest in a bowl until well combined. Toss in the sliced exotic tomatoes and pomegranate rubies and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Spoon the hummus onto a platter or individual plates and top with the golden koftas and pomegranate salad.
Garnish with fresh basil and baby herb leaves, drizzle olive oil over the top and serve with hot naan or pita bread.
Tahini Paste:
Toast the sesame seeds in a pan over a medium heat, stirring occasionally until they become golden brown. Be careful, sesame seeds burn easily. Remove and allow to cool.
Add the sesame seeds to a food processor/blender, start by using 2 tablespoons of olive oil and blend into a smooth paste. Pour in more olive oil if needed to reach the consistency of a paste.
The tahini paste can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for several months.