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Moroccan Spiral Meatball Zucchini Bake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 85 reviews

A flavorful Moroccan-inspired bake featuring spiced lamb meatballs nestled between zucchini rounds and red capsicum, all baked in a rich tomato-garlic sauce. Perfect for a comforting dinner served with flatbreads, couscous, or garlic rice.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatball Mixture

  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if needed, or regular breadcrumbs)
  • 1/2 onion, grated
  • 500g / 1 lb lamb mince (or beef)
  • 1 egg
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley, plus extra for garnish
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp paprika (sweet or smoky)
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (or black pepper)
  • 3/4 tsp kosher salt (cooking salt)

Vegetables

  • 2 fat zucchinis/courgettes (about 5cm/2″ wide and 22cm/9″ long), cut into ~20 rounds 1.2 cm / 0.5″ thick
  • 1 large or 1 1/2 regular red capsicum (bell pepper), cut into ~20 large chunks 5 x 2.5 cm / 1 x 1″
  • 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (for tossing vegetables)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Sauce

  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 1/2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup warm tap water
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper

To Serve

  • Plain yogurt, thinned with a little water for drizzling
  • Flatbreads, basmati rice, couscous, or mash

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C/375°F (180°C fan-forced) to prepare for baking the dish.
  2. Toss Vegetables: In a bowl, toss the zucchini rounds and red capsicum chunks with 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Set aside to marinate briefly.
  3. Prepare Sauce: In a small jug or bowl, combine the crushed garlic cloves, tomato paste, 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, warm water, 1/8 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Mix well and set aside.
  4. Make Meatball Mixture: Place the panko breadcrumbs in a mixing bowl. Grate the onion directly over the breadcrumbs and toss with your fingertips to moisten the breadcrumbs with onion juices. Add the lamb mince, egg, minced garlic, chopped parsley, cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and 3/4 tsp salt. Mix thoroughly with your hands until well combined.
  5. Form Meatballs: Roll the meat mixture into 16 equal portions and then gently flatten each one slightly to about 1.5 cm (0.6″) thickness, approximately 2.5 tbsp or 45g in size, so they are similar in size or a bit larger than the zucchini rounds.
  6. Assemble in Pan: Using a 26 cm (10.5″) round cast-iron pan or similar sized baking dish, start arranging the meatballs upright, each wedged with a zucchini round. Make a ring around the edge first, then fill in the center. Wedge the capsicum pieces in between wherever possible to hold everything together. The arrangement can be artistic, and you can use as much zucchini and capsicum as you like, even if some remains unused.
  7. Add Sauce and Oil: Pour the prepared tomato-garlic sauce evenly over the meatballs and vegetables, trying to cover everything well. Drizzle about 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil over the top for added moisture and flavor.
  8. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes, or until the meatballs are nicely browned on the surface and cooked through.
  9. Serve: Serve the bake hot, drizzling thinned plain yogurt over the top. Accompany with flatbreads, garlic rice, couscous, or mashed potatoes. Spoon plenty of the delicious sauce over the serving for maximum flavor.

Notes

  • Use gluten-free breadcrumbs if avoiding gluten.
  • Lamb mince gives a more authentic flavor, but beef can be substituted.
  • The cinnamon powder adds a magical depth of flavor—don’t skip it!
  • Zucchini rounds act as a base and help hold the meatballs upright and juicy.
  • Arrangement is flexible; feel free to get creative with the layering.
  • The bake pairs beautifully with plain yogurt to balance the spices.
  • Can be served with flatbreads, basmati rice, couscous, or mashed potatoes as preferred.

Keywords: Moroccan meatballs, zucchini bake, lamb meatballs, baked meatball dish, Middle Eastern inspired, easy dinner recipe

Find it online: https://kitchenbyclara.com/moroccan-spiral-meatball-zucchini-bake-recipe/