Tunisian Lamb Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs Ground lamb
• 0.5 medium Onion
• 2 cloves Garlic
• 0.5 cup Breadcrumbs
• 1 Egg
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 28 oz Canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 tbsp Tomato paste
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Coriander
• 2 large Sweet potatoes
• 0.5 cup Coconut milk

Instructions

1. 1In a large bowl, combine the 1.5 lbs ground lamb, 0.5 medium onion (finely chopped), 2 cloves garlic (minced), 0.5 cup breadcrumbs, 1 egg, 1 tsp cumin, and 1 tsp coriander. Mix all ingredients together thoroughly with your hands until well combined.
2. 2Roll the lamb mixture into individual meatballs, each about 1.5 inches in diameter. You should have approximately 16 to 20 meatballs.
3. 3Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Heat the 2 tbsp olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Carefully place the formed meatballs into the hot skillet, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan, and brown them on all sides for 5-7 minutes until they are visibly browned. Remove the browned meatballs from the skillet and set them aside on a plate.
4. 4Into the same skillet, pour the 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes and add the 2 tbsp tomato paste. Stir these ingredients together and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Return the browned meatballs to the skillet, nestling them into the simmering tomato sauce. Cover the skillet tightly with a lid or aluminum foil.
5. 5Place the covered skillet into the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
6. 6While the meatballs are baking, peel and cut the 2 large sweet potatoes into 1-inch chunks. Place the sweet potato chunks in a large pot and cover them completely with water. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-high and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.
7. 7Drain the cooked sweet potatoes thoroughly. Return the drained sweet potatoes to the pot, add the 0.5 cup coconut milk, and mash until the sweet potatoes are smooth and creamy. Serve the Tunisian lamb meatballs and tomato sauce spooned generously over the mashed sweet potatoes.

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