Eggplant Meatballs With Pomegranate Molasses Sauce Recipes

EGGPLANT WITH POMEGRANATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Start the preparation the day before serving. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Lightly coat a baking sheet with olive oil.
• Remove the stem end from each eggplant. Slice the eggplants on the bias into 1/2-inch thick ovals. Spread the slices on the baking sheet in a single layer and brush with olive oil. Bake the eggplants 12 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Using a spatula, transfer the slices, overlapping slightly, to a shallow serving dish.
• In a small bowl, combine the pomegranate molasses, lemon juice, garlic, sugar, olive oil, and salt; blend well. Drizzle the sauce over the eggplant. Top with the mint, parsley and pomegranate seeds. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand until ready to serve. Can be refrigerated overnight, but is best served at room temperature.

EGGPLANT MEATBALLS WITH POMEGRANATE MOLASSES SAUCE

Steps:

• Steam the eggplant, covered, using a steaming basket and stirring the eggplant while it steams, so it cooks evenly. Cook 35 -40 minutes or until tender (see note #1)
• Once the eggplant is cooked make sure it drains well and set it aside (see note #2)
• While the eggplant cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onions and garlic and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes or until soft and translucent
• In a large bowl, combine the eggplant, cooked onions and garlic, flax or regular eggs, Panko bread crumbs, cilantro or parsley, turmeric, sumac, salt, coriander and pepper Mix well and mash with a fork until you get a uniform mixture with no lumps
• Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes or overnight, if making ahead (see note #3)
• Preheat the oven to 375F. Coat a baking dish with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• Working with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of mixture at a time, form even-sized meatballs (to make it easier we like to use an ice cream scoop). Arranged them in the greased baking dish, and bake them for 20 minutes
• While the meatballs cook, prepare the pomegranate molasses sauce. Heat the olive oil in a sauce pan. Add the onions and cook for 7-10minutes, until soft and translucent. Add the pomegranate juice, pomegranate molasses, honey, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until reduced in half, about 15-20 minutes
• After the meatballs have been baking for 20 minutes, add the pomegranate sauce and continue baking for an additional 20 minutes
• Serve with rice. couscous or quinoa. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and chopped parsley or cilantro before serving

LAMB MEATBALLS WITH POMEGRANATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F In a large bowl combine egg, bread crumbs, chopped mint, 2 cloves minced garlic, salt and pepper. Add lamb and mix well. Shape into about 32 meatballs and set aside.
• To prepare the sauce bring the pomegranate juice to a boil in a medium saucepan. reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, about 25 minutes until reduce to about 1/2 cup. Add the sugar and stir to dissolve.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Brown the meatballs, in batches, being sure to turn meatballs a few times for even browning. Once browned transfer meatballs to a 15x10x1 inch baking dish. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until and instant read thermometer reads 160°F when inserted in a meatball.
• While meatballs are finishing prepare the yogurt sauce. In a medium bowl combine yogurt, 1 tablespoon snipped chives, and one minced garlic clove.
• To serve, drizzle meatballs with pomegranate sauce, sprinkle with remaining snipped chives and mint if desired. Serve with the yogurt sauce and toasted pita wedges.

PISTACHIO AND POMEGRANATE MEATBALLS (KUFTEH-YE PESTEH-O ANAR)

Steps:

• To make the meatballs: Place all the ingredients, except the ground turkey and egg, in a food processor and pulse until you have a grainy paste. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and add the turkey and egg. Lightly knead with your hands for a few minutes (do not over-mix). Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 10 minutes or up to 24 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). Generously oil a wide, non-reactive baking dish, large enough to fit 24 meatballs, (about 12 x 14 in/30 x 35 cm) and set aside.
• Remove the turkey mixture from the fridge and shape into walnut-sized balls (about 1 1/2 tablespoons each, using an ice-cream scoop). Place the meatballs in the baking dish and brush well with oil. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, until bottoms of the meatballs are lightly golden.
• Meanwhile, in another mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients for the glaze.
• Spoon the glaze over the meatballs and bake for another 5 minutes to infuse them with the flavor of pomegranate.
• Garnish with the pomegranate arils and serve warm with the sauce. These meatballs are perfect for wrapping with sprigs of fresh basil in lavash bread or green lettuce.

PERSIAN-INSPIRED MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Combine lamb, bread crumbs, scallions, mint, advieh, dill, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add beaten eggs; knead by hand until smooth and sticky. Cover and refrigerate until flavors blend, at least 30 minutes.
• Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Form the lamb mixture into 1-inch balls. Arrange on a rimmed baking sheet. Mist the tops with cooking spray.
• Broil in the preheated oven for 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet and broil for 3 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 140 degrees F (60 degrees C).
• Brush the meatballs with pomegranate molasses as soon as they come out of the oven.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) WITH POMEGRANATE MOLASSES

Steps:

• Start the preparation the day before serving.
• Preheat the oven to 425F degrees.
• Lightly coat a baking sheet with olive oil.
• Remove the stem end from each eggplant.
• Slice the eggplants on the bias into 1/2-inch thick ovals.
• Spread the slices on the baking sheet in a single layer and brush with olive oil.
• Bake the eggplants 12 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
• Using a spatula, transfer the slices, overlapping slightly, to a shallow serving dish.
• In a small bowl, combine the Pomegranate Molasses, lemon juice, garlic, sugar, olive oil, and salt; blend well.
• Drizzle the sauce over the eggplant.
• Top with the mint, parsley and pomegranate seeds.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let stand until ready to serve.
• (Can be refrigerated overnight, but is best served at room temperature.).