Mafroum
Mauritanian Spiced Meatballs
Mafroum is a flavorful Mauritanian dish featuring spiced meatballs, often made with beef or lamb, simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce with aromatic spices. It's a comforting and savory meal, typically served with couscous or rice.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 g Ground beef or lamb
- 1 medium Onion(finely chopped)
- 3 cloves Garlic cloves(minced)
- 1 inch Fresh ginger(grated)
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 1 tsp Coriander
- 0.5 tsp Turmeric
- 0.25 tsp Cayenne pepper(or to taste)
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground)
- 1 large Egg
- 0.25 cup Breadcrumbs(optional, for binding)
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 400 g Crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 1 cup Vegetable broth or water
- 0.25 cup Fresh cilantro or parsley(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, half of the chopped onion, minced garlic, grated ginger, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper, egg, and breadcrumbs (if using). Mix well until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
💡 Tip: Avoid overmixing, which can make the meatballs tough. - 2
Roll the meat mixture into small meatballs, about 1-1.5 inches in diameter. You should get about 16-20 meatballs.
- 3
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs in batches, turning them to sear all sides. Remove the browned meatballs and set aside.
- 4
Add the remaining chopped onion to the pot and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- 5
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
- 6
Add the crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth (or water). Bring the sauce to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
💡 Tip: Adjust the amount of liquid to achieve your desired sauce consistency. - 7
Return the browned meatballs to the pot. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 30 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce has thickened.
💡 Tip: Simmering allows the flavors to meld and the meatballs to become tender. - 8
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley before serving.
💡 Tip: Serve hot with couscous, rice, or crusty bread.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a deeper flavor, you can add a pinch of cinnamon or a bay leaf to the sauce.
- ✓If you don't have breadcrumbs, you can use crushed crackers or even a small amount of cooked rice for binding.
- ✓Mafroum can be made ahead of time and reheated; the flavors often improve the next day.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add a diced bell pepper to the sauce for extra vegetables.
- For a spicier kick, increase the amount of cayenne pepper or add a finely chopped chili pepper.
- Incorporate finely chopped fresh mint into the meatball mixture for a refreshing twist.