Frui

During our last holiday to Marrakech, Abdul, the head chef at our riad, showed us how to make a delicious Kofta tagine. It only takes 15 mins and it will impress your friends no end…

Serves 2 hungry people or 3 slightly peckish people or 4 people who have already eaten, who tend to be quite greedy.

Ingredients:

• Garlic (1 clove)
• 2 eggs
• Parsley
• Olive oil
• 4 Peeled and chopped tomatoes
• Minced lamb balls (not their actual… you know what I mean)
• Ginger
• Cumin
• Paprika
• Ground pepper
• Salt
• Wine (drink this while cooking)

Equipment:

• Kitchen
• Tagine dish (A frying pan with a lid will do, but this is less impressive, particularly if you have friends round)

Step 1

Put on some traditional Moroccan tunes. Open the wine and pour yourself a stiff glass. Casually throw a dishcloth over one shoulder and turn on your hob.

Step 2

Heat the tagine dish (or pan) on the hob using a medium flame. Pour in the chopped tomatoes and garlic.

Step 3

Add some fresh parsley, one teaspoon of paprika, half a teaspoon of pepper, half a teaspoon of cumin, a generous pinch of salt and four teaspoons of olive oil. Whack on the lid and let it cook for 5 minutes.

Step 4

Add a splash of water and a couple more teaspoons of olive oil. Get that lid back on for another minute or so. Then place the balls of minced lamb evenly over the pan and replace the lid for a further three minutes.

Step 5

Baste the meatballs and turn down heat. Crack the eggs into the pan and stick that lid back on for a few more minutes until those eggs are cooked. Add a touch more olive oil and parsley for decoration.