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Moroccan Meatball Couscous Soup

Moroccan Meatball Couscous Soup
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Warm up your evening with Moroccan Meatball Couscous Soup, a hearty and flavorful blend of aromatic North African spices, tender meatballs, and delicate couscous pearls in a comforting broth. This soup offers a perfect balance of rich flavors and satisfying textures, making it ideal for chilly nights or cozy gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatballs

  • 1 lb ground lamb or beef
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Soup Base

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely diced
  • 2 carrots, finely diced
  • 2 stalks celery, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth

Couscous and Finishing

  • 1 cup mild couscous (small granules)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Meatballs: Combine ground meat with minced garlic, chopped parsley, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Mix just until combined and shape into small, bite-sized meatballs for even cooking.
  2. Brown the Meatballs: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Gently brown the meatballs on all sides until caramelized. Remove and set aside while preparing the soup base.
  3. Build the Soup Base: In the same pot, sauté diced onions, carrots, and celery until softened. Add minced garlic and Moroccan spices (cumin, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, paprika), cooking until fragrant. Stir in tomato paste, then add the broth to create a flavorful base.
  4. Simmer Meatballs and Soup: Return the browned meatballs to the pot, bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 20-25 minutes to meld flavors and cook meatballs through.
  5. Add Couscous: Stir in couscous and cook uncovered for about 5 minutes until couscous absorbs broth and is tender. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  6. Finish with Fresh Herbs: Just before serving, sprinkle chopped parsley and cilantro over the soup for a bright, fresh contrast to the spices.

Notes

  • Don’t overmix meatballs to keep them tender and avoid dense texture.
  • Toast spices briefly before adding liquids to deepen their aroma.
  • Use fine couscous for quicker cooking and better texture integration.
  • Adjust broth amount to achieve desired soup thickness; add more for thinner soup or simmer longer for thicker.
  • Let the soup rest off the heat for a few minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.

Nutrition

Keywords: Moroccan, Meatball Soup, Couscous, North African, Spiced Soup, Comfort Food, Gluten-Free Option

Find it online: https://recipesemilly.com/moroccan-meatball-couscous-soup/