Meatballs cooked with cherries, are known in the Persian, Bukharin and Georgian cuisines. Stuffed onions are also known in these cuisines, and in the Turkish and Greek ones as well. In the following dish, I took the liberty of combining all the above into a free-style version, while using different seasoning and mixing the two dishes in the same pot.
The result was very tasty; the two dishes complemented each other, and having both dishes in one pot made for easy entertaining. The fact that the dish tastes even better after a day in the fridge, made it even more entertaining-friendly. Try it and enjoy.
Notes:
* As with any ground meats, I recommend grinding it at home. This way you have full control over the freshness and type of meat you’re using.
* I’ve used a mixture of ground beef shoulder and center cut shank, with the bone marrow (about 3 Tbs) chopped in. If you use other cut, add a bit of fat to the meat when grinding. Lamb is also a wonderful option.
Makes: 6-8
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 2½ hours
Ingredients:
For the meat mix:
1.8 Lbs (800 grams) ground beef (see notes)
1 small onion, chopped
¾ cup chopped mixed parsley, mint and celery leaves
1 Tbs salt
½ tsp each: freshly ground black pepper, paprika, five spices mix
2 tsp sumac powder
1 Tbs herbs de Provence
1/3 cup dried sour cherries
For the stuffed onions:
1 large yellow onion
1 cup of the above meatballs mixture
1/3 cup Basmati rice
For the meatballs:
¼ cup Panko breadcrumbs
For the cooking liquid:
2 cups beef stock
½ cup chopped fresh cherries (or frozen, thawed)
2 Tbs olive oil
¼ cup cherries or pomegranate molasses
1 tsp salt
1 Tbs honey (preferably orange blossom)
For serving:
½ cup chopped fresh cherries (or frozen, thawed)
Chopped fresh herbs
Freshly cooked Basmati rice (check HERE for recipe)
1. Mix all the ingredients for the meat mix in a large bowl. Take out 1 cup of the mix and place in a separate dish. Add the rice and mix well – this will be the filling for the stuffed onions. Add the Panko breadcrumbs to the rest of the meat mix in the bowl and mix well. Create about 16 medium size balls from the mixture and set aside.
2. The onion: peel the onion and remove the core. Make a deep cut halfway into it. Place in a bowl and pour boiling water over it. Let cool to room temperature. Carefully separate the onion layers and place in a medium pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, until the onion layers are playable but not too soft. Drain and carefully stuff with the meat-rice mix.
3. In a large flat pot, mix the ingredients for the cooking liquids and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Add the meatballs in one layer and then place the stuffed onions on top. Bring to an almost boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot and simmer for 30 minutes. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed.
4. Preheat the oven to 200F (95C). Place the covered pot in the oven and bake for 1½ hours. Uncover the pot and bake for additional 30 minutes, basting with the sauce occasionally.
The dish can be served at this point, but will taste even better after a day in the fridge. Bring to room temperature and reheat gently (NOT in the microwave!) before serving. Sprinkle fresh chopped herbs and cherries on top. Serve with freshly cooked Basmati rice.
It looks lovely, Ronit!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Daniela, I’m glad you liked it. It turned out very tasty. Well worth trying. 🙂
LikeLike
I am not familiar with the Persian, Bukharin orGeorgian cuisines. I sounds delicious and will have to try it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Aletta, I’m glad you liked the dish. All these cuisines are wonderful, and in all there is a use of fruits with meat, which I love.
I hope you’ll try and enjoy the dish. I’ll be happy to hear your comments. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love cherries, never thought to pair it with meat! This looks beautiful and delicious. 🍒
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Colleen, I’m glad you liked the idea.
I can’t take credit for this wonderful pairing, but I love pairing meat and fruits in general, so it was worth toying with. Loved the results. Worthy trying! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Meatballs are always good but stuffing onion layers like this is a great idea. Never done that before! Sweet cherries added to a savory recipe sounds like a perfect match 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Judi, I’m glad you liked the recipe. I love onions in any form, so stuffed onions was something I tried early on and loved it. Combining it with the meatballs and cherries turned out great. Well worth tying! 🙂
LikeLike
I love onions too – that’s why I liked the idea a lot. Need to find some big onions 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they are not so easy to find. I hope you’ll get lucky! 🙂
LikeLike
Gorgeous and impressive!!! This is so my kind dish!! Thank you for sharing!! I get a little bored with eating my meatballs taste. So this is great timing for me 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Aki, I’m glad to hear you’ve found this dish inspiring. I too get bored with the “usual” meatballs and always looking for different ways to prepare them. This dish turned out so good, I had to share it. I hope you’ll enjoy it too. I’ll be happy to hear your comments. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Great idea ☺ meatballs and cherries sound really good to me 👌🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sandra, I’m glad you liked the dish. Hope you’ll try and enjoy it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your recipe looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Becky, I’m glad you liked the recipe. I hope you’ll try and enjoy it. 🙂
LikeLike
Reblogged this on All About Writing and more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Henrietta for reblogging. I’m glad you liked the recipe. 🙂
LikeLike
Ronit, I love this! The flavours you have in the meatballs are fantastic. I’m especially a huge fan of sumac – one of my favourite spices. And sour cherries. Yum!
LikeLike
Thank you Tracey, I’m glad you liked my version. I love cooking with cherries. and I too am a big fan of sumac. It has such great flavor. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not sure I’ll make it, Ronit, that’s a lot of work, but I raise my glass of Chivas Regal to my more adventurous foodie blogger.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Mary, that’s a great compliment! 🙂
LikeLike
Wow, what an amazing fusion of flavors, Ronit! Excellent!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Kathryn, I’m glad you liked my version. It turned out so good. Worth documenting. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a fascinating recipe Ronit! The stuffed onion is something I have never seen before and looks very intriguing to me. i am sure it must taste very good too! I will give this recipe a try one of these days – I will probably skip the rice though since I am paleo but this looks wonderful! thanks for sharing this great recipe!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Indu, I’m glad you liked the recipe. The rice and breadcrumbs give the mixture a lighter texture, but I think you can use some paleo substitute – like ground almonds.
I hope you’ll try and enjoy it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes I will def try making this! Will let you know 🙂 thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
WOW! This might be the most unique recipe. I’ve ever come across.. Fascinating!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Mimi, for such a great compliment! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks delicious. I’ve seen stuffed onions once before. I like the combination of ideas! I bet it was tasty!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Joanne, I’m glad you liked my mixed version. Stuffed onions are delicious. Well worth the effort! 🙂
LikeLike
This looks amazing! Love!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Christina, I’m glad you liked my version. :).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow. That’s an interesting combination Ronit. Thanks for the share!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Rini, I’m glad you liked my combo-style dish. I’m happy to share! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool trick with the onions – must remember that. Have been contemplating an in-home meat grinder for integrity and sanitary reasons. Must push harder.
Virtual hugs,
Judie
LikeLiked by 1 person
With small quantities or when I’m too lazy to use the large grinder, I sometimes use the food processor to chop the meat. It works! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I want to do it on a regular basis. I have been having Safeway grind roasts for me, but they have discontinued this accommodation. I know this isn’t a sure-fire way of getting uncontaminated ground beef, but better than buying just a bulk pack. I figure better integrity if I do the grinding myself ad hoc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t bring myself to buy prepackaged ground meat. No doubt the quality and cleanliness is better by far when grinding or chopping at home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a very delicious combination! I love stuffed onions!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Aspassia, I’m glad you liked my version.
I sometimes make a vegetarian version of the stuffed onions, which I first ate in Greece. So very tasty! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yummyyy!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 🙂
LikeLike
Never heard of and never imagined meatballs cooked with cherries, but sounds yum!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
It’s not such a conventional combination, but it is very tasty. You may also like to check this recipe, for chicken with sour cherries. 🙂
https://ronitpenso.wordpress.com/2014/01/25/chicken-with-sour-cherries-and-red-wine/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for another recipe Ronit. Canned cherries work?
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure. 🙂
Yes canned definitely work. That’s what I’ve used for the chicken.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds like an amazing combination of flavors…it must be delicious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Karen, I’m glad you liked my version. The dish turned out so good, I had to document it. 🙂
LikeLike
I can certainly see why. Great job.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks great! I’ll bet the cherries add a lot to this one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Kendal, I’m glad you liked the dish. The cherries do add lots of flavor to it. Highly recommended. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome! I hope to try it sometime!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like how the meatballs and stuffed onions are combined in one pot. I’m especially fascinated by the stuffed onions. Often onions are diced and chopped, and otherwise largely “hidden” in dishes. I like how this recipe features them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sheryl, it looks like we like the same thing – the onions are definitely highlighted this way, which is quite a rare delight. Definitely worth the effort. 🙂
LikeLike
What a great combination Ronit. You are so inventive!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Lindy, I’m glad you liked this tasty combination. It’s well worth the effort! 🙂
LikeLike
Meatballs and cherries sound intriguing, I would never have thought to combine the two. It all looks amazing and lovely photos as well😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Marisa!
I can’t take credit for the combination of meat and cherries, but happily used it, as it is so good.Well worth trying. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the taste of sour cherries with meat and rice. I use that combination in Mutton Biryani made with Basmati rice and goat meat.
The herbed meatballs and the stuffed onions truly show what an accomplished chef you are Ronit. the dish just says perfection!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sandhya, for your kind words! 🙂
Meat and cherries is indeed such a great combination. It would be interesting to see the recipe for the Biryani dish you’ve mentioned. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cherries and meat! This should be a must try recipe for me. Thank for this share Ronit
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sumith, I’m glad you liked the dish. It’s my pleasure to share. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh my gosh, it looks really delish!
http://www.deelishrecipes.com is where I share my recipes 🙂 I would like to try your out 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Zanne, I’m glad you liked the dish.
You have beautiful recipes. I suggest you’d add a “Like” button, so it will be easier to compliment you. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, how to add that button, I thought it was already by default there? Or it isn’t?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is on your blog, but not on your website.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now it’s on both my blog and my website too, pls LIKE it http://www.deelishrecipes.com
LikeLike
That looks amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Michelle! 🙂
LikeLike
Awesome recipe😋👍🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome😍
LikeLiked by 1 person