Description
Tender chicken meatballs infused with Moroccan spices, enriched with yogurt, and served over a tangy parsley‑yogurt sauce with a hint of garlic.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- ⅓ cup whole‑milk yogurt (divided)
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped + more for garnish
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt, plus a pinch to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Juice of ½ lemon (optional, adds brightness)
- For Sauce: 1 cup yogurt, 1 tsp minced garlic, 1 tsp lemon juice, pinch of salt, pinch of pepper
- Olive oil for frying
- Optional: toasted pine nuts to garnish
Instructions
- Stir together the sauce ingredients and chill until ready to serve.
- In a bowl, combine ground chicken, ⅓ cup yogurt, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, spices, salt, pepper, garlic, and lemon juice (if using). Mix gently.
- Form into 1½‑inch meatballs.
- Heat a skillet over medium‑high heat with a swirl of olive oil.
- Fry meatballs in batches, turning to get a golden crust on all sides, about 4–5 minutes total.
- Lower heat if browning too fast. Finish cooking through in skillet or transfer to a preheated 400 °F oven for ~10 minutes.
- Spread yogurt sauce on a platter, top with meatballs, garnish with parsley and pine nuts (if using), and serve warm.
Notes
- Yogurt in the mix boosts tenderness and moistness. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
- Warm Moroccan spices (paprika, cumin, cinnamon) provide rich, aromatic depth. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
- The parsley-yogurt base is a classic finishing touch in Moroccan cuisine. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
- Searing the meatballs before finishing in the oven achieves crisp outsides and juicy centers. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course / Appetizer
- Method: Pan‑fry (optional finish in oven)
- Cuisine: Moroccan‑inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4–5 meatballs
- Calories: Approx. 250 kcal
- Sugar: undefined
- Sodium: undefined
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: undefined
- Unsaturated Fat: undefined
- Trans Fat: undefined
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: undefined
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: undefined
