Kabab Meat Balls with Cherry

INGREDIENTS

2  cups cherries, sour, dried and pitted

2/3  kg ground beef

1  large onions, chopped

1/4  teaspoon nutmeg, grated

1/4  teaspoon clove

1  teaspoon cinnamon

salt

pepper

6  tablespoons vegetable oil

1  juice of 1 lemon

Cooking method according to shahiya.com

1. Put the cherries in a bowl and pour water over them until they are just covered (not more). Let soak for around 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, mix the meat, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Knead into paste-like dough.

3. Take walnut-sized pieces of the mix and roll into balls.

4. Fry the meat balls in 5 tablespoons of oil till they start to change colour from the outside. Remove, drain and keep aside.

5. Fry the onion with 1 tablespoon of oil until it turns soft. Mix in the cherries with the soaking water. Add in the lemon juice.

6. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes then stir in the meatballs and simmer for another 10 minutes or until they have absorbed most of the cherry juice.

7. Serve warm with plain rice or pita bread.

H.Zoghib