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Meatballs in cherry sauce (Kebab B’il karaz)

Yields4 ServingsPrep Time30 minsCook Time30 minsTotal Time1 hr 3 mins

Cherry Kebab (Arabic: كباب كرز‎) is a special kind of kebab, which is made with minced lamb and cherry. The original name in Arabic is Kebab B'il Karaz. Cherry kebab is a specialty dish from Aleppo, the largest city in Syria with heritage and history.

 1 tablespoon olive oil
 4 cups yellow onions, chopped
 4 cloves garlic, crushed
 1 lbs. ground lamb
 1 teaspoon mixed spices
 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
 ½ teaspoon black pepper
 ½ teaspoon sea salt
 1 lbs. (500 grams) fresh cherries
 2 cinnamon sticks
 ½ cup lemon juice
 ½ cup pine nuts
 ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
 ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
1

Fry the onions in olive oil until wilted and set aside to cool.

2

Mix all the spices, cinnamon, black pepper, salt and crushed garlic in a bowl and season the minced meat, cover and place in the refrigerator for an hour before preparation

3

Place the cherries in a pot over medium heat with cinnamon and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook covered for 15 minutes, until cherries soften.

4

Remove the cinnamon sticks from the cherries and mash the grains a little with a fork, then remove the cherry pits.

5

Mix the spiced minced meat with fried onions and form into meatballs about an inch in diameter. Fry them in batches in a skillet until well browned.

6

Transfer the browned meatballs to the pot with the cherry sauce. Simmer an additional 15 minutes.

7

Meanwhile, lightly toast pine nuts in olive oil in a separate frying pan.

8

To serve, place sauced meatballs on a large platter with pita bread points. Garnish with chopped mint, parsley, and toasted pine nuts.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4