Cauliflower-Stuffed Meatball Ragout in Spicy Tomato Sauce (Tunisian Mubattan Bruklu)

Recipe courtesy Oliver Andreini, Culinary Institute of America

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Picture of Cauliflower-Stuffed Meatball Ragout in Spicy Tomato Sauce (Tunisian Mubattan Bruklu) Recipe Photo: Cauliflower-Stuffed Meatball Ragout in Spicy Tomato Sauce (Tunisian Mubattan Bruklu) Recipe
Rated 5 stars out of 5
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Total Time:
1 hr 35 min
Prep
45 min
Cook
50 min
Yield:
4 to 6 servings
Level:
Intermediate
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Ingredients

For the meatballs:

  • 6 cups olive oil or vegetable oil, for frying
  • 1 medium-sized head cauliflower (about 1 pound)
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, lamb, or veal
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons tabil (a Tunisian spice blend of coriander seed, caraway seed, garlic powder, cayenne pepper)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • All-purpose unbleached flour, as needed, for dredging
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the sauce:

For the meatballs:

Directions

Preheat frying oil in a deep-fryer or 8-inch deep saucepan to 375 degrees F.

Bring a saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil and cook the whole cauliflower until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well and break into small florets.

Place the meat, onion, cinnamon, parsley, tabil, salt, and pepper in a food processor, in batches if necessary, and process until well blended. Remove to a bowl.

Have a bowl of water handy to keep your hands wet while making meatballs. Meatballs are formed by flattening a lemon-sized portion of meat into a thin patty and wrapping the patty around a cauliflower floret to completely enclose. Form into an oval shape, then dip into the eggs and dredge in flour, tapping off any excess flour.

Cook the meatballs in oil until golden, about 4 minutes, without crowding the fryer. Remove with a slotted spoon to paper toweling to drain.

For the sauce:

Heat the extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high heat in a large saucepan. Dissolve the tomato paste in the water, and add to the pan along with harisa and ground red chili. Add the meatballs and cook covered until most of the liquid evaporates, about 25 minutes. Add a little water to rehydrate sauce if it is dries out before that time. Serve meatballs covered with sauce.

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 5 reviews

  • on April 30, 2012

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    This was delicious! Although I did change things a bit. Could not find tabil locally so made up my own mix, which may be totally off (I welcome anyones comments who knows the exact proportions!: 3/8 tsp corriander (whole then ground, 3/8 tsp carraway (whole then ground, 1/2 tsp garlic powder and 1/4 tsp cayenne. Just browned the meatballs then let if finish cooking in the sauce instead of deep frying. Also had a bunch of leftover floret bits so dredged those in the egg and panko'd and quick fried with some salt and pepper for a nice quick crispy garnish for the top. Given the spice profile i served this over brown rice, but I think it would have paired equally nice with quinoa or cous cous.

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  • on February 25, 2012

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    Amazing! I am Italian and I am sorry to admit that these were better than my own meatballs. Something happens in the mix of these spices and transcends regular meatballs.

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on May 20, 2011

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    Fantastic! I'm a private chef and this sauce has become a staple for the family I cook for. Deliciousness.

    people found this review Helpful.
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