This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our
disclosure policy
for more information.
One of the recipes I made for a recent party was an Arabian dish – Kofta, or Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Cherry Sauce. It’s from a cookbook called “Modern Flavors of Arabia” by Suzanne Husseini, one of most popular cooking show personalities in the Middle East. The sweet and sour cherry sauce complemented the rich lamb meatballs (though of course you could use ground pork/beef/chicken/turkey instead).
I rehydrated dried cherries in honey and lemon (also – ahem, I may or may not have added a little splash of Brandy). The sauce simmers quietly while the meatballs cook in the oven or on the stove.
It’s a fabulous party food – skewer each meatball with a cute pick.
Kofta Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Cherry Sauce Recipe Video
Kofta Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Cherry Sauce
Feel free to sub the lamb with ground meat of your choice.
1shallot, chopped (or 2 tablespoons diced red onion)
1cupdried cherries
3teaspoonshoney
1splash of Brandy (optional)
1/2lemon, juiced
1/2cupwater
1/2teaspooncinnamon
1tablespoonminced fresh mint
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Meatballs:
1poundground lamb
1/4cupsparkling water
2clovesgarlic, minced
2tablespoonsminced fresh parsley
1/2teaspooncloves
1/2teaspooncinnamon
1/2teaspooncumin
1/2teaspoonallspice
salt and pepper to taste
3tablespoonsolive oil
Instructions
To make the Cherry Sauce:
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and shallot and saute until tender. Add the cherries, honey, lemon juice, water and cinnamon and bring mixture to a boil. Lower the heat and allow to simmer for 5 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the mint.
To make the Meatballs:
Preheat oven to 375F.
In a large mixing bowl, add the ground lamb, sparkling water, garlic, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, allspice, salt and pepper. Mix lightly to incorporate all ingredients. Form mixture into small meatballs.
In a large frying pan over medium high, add olive oil. Add meatballs and fry, turning often to brown all over, about 5-7 minutes. You might have to cook meatballs in batches if your pan is too small. After browning all the meatballs, place meatballs on a baking sheet and bake in oven for 10 minutes to cook through. Drizzle with the cherry sauce just before serving.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our
disclosure policy
for more information.
One of the recipes I made for a recent party was an Arabian dish – Kofta, or Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Cherry Sauce. It’s from a cookbook called “Modern Flavors of Arabia” by Suzanne Husseini, one of most popular cooking show personalities in the Middle East. The sweet and sour cherry sauce complemented the rich lamb meatballs (though of course you could use ground pork/beef/chicken/turkey instead).
I rehydrated dried cherries in honey and lemon (also – ahem, I may or may not have added a little splash of Brandy). The sauce simmers quietly while the meatballs cook in the oven or on the stove.
It’s a fabulous party food – skewer each meatball with a cute pick.
Kofta Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Cherry Sauce Recipe Video
Kofta Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Cherry Sauce
Feel free to sub the lamb with ground meat of your choice.
1shallot, chopped (or 2 tablespoons diced red onion)
1cupdried cherries
3teaspoonshoney
1splash of Brandy (optional)
1/2lemon, juiced
1/2cupwater
1/2teaspooncinnamon
1tablespoonminced fresh mint
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Meatballs:
1poundground lamb
1/4cupsparkling water
2clovesgarlic, minced
2tablespoonsminced fresh parsley
1/2teaspooncloves
1/2teaspooncinnamon
1/2teaspooncumin
1/2teaspoonallspice
salt and pepper to taste
3tablespoonsolive oil
Instructions
To make the Cherry Sauce:
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and shallot and saute until tender. Add the cherries, honey, lemon juice, water and cinnamon and bring mixture to a boil. Lower the heat and allow to simmer for 5 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the mint.
To make the Meatballs:
Preheat oven to 375F.
In a large mixing bowl, add the ground lamb, sparkling water, garlic, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, allspice, salt and pepper. Mix lightly to incorporate all ingredients. Form mixture into small meatballs.
In a large frying pan over medium high, add olive oil. Add meatballs and fry, turning often to brown all over, about 5-7 minutes. You might have to cook meatballs in batches if your pan is too small. After browning all the meatballs, place meatballs on a baking sheet and bake in oven for 10 minutes to cook through. Drizzle with the cherry sauce just before serving.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our
disclosure policy
for more information.
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comment section! I always appreciate your feedback and I know other readers do, too!
Stay in touch with me in our Facebook group, on Pinterest or follow me on Instagram! Sign up for my email list, too where we chat all things recipes, tips, giveaways, and more!
Making this again for a New Year’s Eve party – but the recipe doesn’t say where to add the parsley – I added it to the meatball’s none-the-less – we’re serving Kofta as an app along with caviar pie; the mushroom lasagna and beet salad with feta… Happy New Year!
Hi Jaden, loving your blog. So nice that you shared my kofta with cherry sauce recipe. I hope you’ve had a chance to try some more dishes from my book. Hope to see you sometime and maybe cook together. I’m launching a food blog soon and will be sharing so much.
When the cooking of meat is done, the meat is usually not
cooked evenly on all sides. Their grilling units
are all quality, upmarket, top of the line, well constructed and designed.
Get rid of the debris that is clogging it and test the igniter again.
I just like the helpful info you provide on your articles.
I will bookmark your blog and check once more right
here frequently. I am fairly sure I’ll be informed many new stuff proper here! Best of luck for the next!
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Currently it sounds like Movable Type is the best blogging platform
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Hi, I do think your site could possibly be having internet browser compatibility issues.
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I merely wanted to provide you with a quick heads up!
Other than that, fantastic blog!
I do not drop a ton of comments, however i did
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and Sour Cherry Sauce | Steamy Kitchen Recipes. And I actually
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Good day! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of
volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche.
Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a outstanding job!
The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and
tested to see if it can survive a twenty five foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation.
My iPad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is
entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
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from each other. If you might be interested feel free to shoot me an email.
I look forward to hearing from you! Fantastic blog by
the way!
I am making this recipe now for the third time. I’m taking it to a friend’s house who lost her beaux in a tragic biking accident one week ago. I know it’s going to bring sustenance and comfort (if at all possible) at this time – so thanks for this. It was the first thing I thought of when we said we would visit. I’ve been serving it with couscous and asparagus.
Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Very helpful information specially the last part 🙂 I care for such info a lot. I was seeking this particular information for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
Hello would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re working with? I’m going to
start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a difficult time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique.
P.S Apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!
Made these yesterday for my husband who has been out of town on tour! He said he feels like he’s eating in a five star restaurant! Yummy! These would be great for a party! I didn’t have sparkling – but used water – learned that this is common in meatballs when googling for substitutions. I also made your bruschetta with ricotta, prosciutto, arugla drizzled with honey the day before! Looking for something for today… Tomorrow we start a 21 day cleanse – we want to go out on a bang!
I love of Middle Eastern flavors, especially lamb applications, so I will definitely make these soon!
Just curious: Why sparkling water? Don’t all the bubbles just get squished out when you mix the meatball ingredients? I’m really looking forward to an answer on this one, because the only application I’ve encountered before using sparkling water in a cooked recipe is interchangeable with beer to make light, air batter for deep-frying.
Just goes to show, “The day you stop learning is the day you start dying.”
Hilarious about separating your recycle. That is a riot. I’m heading to FL next week for a week on the beach and was just thinking that I’d rather stay home. Pfft.
Oh my!! That looks amazing! I love cooking food with lamb, and am always on the look-out for new recipes with interesting flavors. Got this bookmarked and ready to go 🙂
I’d like to invite you to join the CookEatShare Author Network. I really enjoy your blog and I think the over 1 million unique montly visitors to CookEatShare.com will too.
By joining our Author Network, your blog posts will be indexed and users will be guided to your actual blog when searching your recipes or profile.
The service is free and easy to sign up for. Simply visit http://www.cookeatshare.com/blogs/apply or contact me at Kyra@cookeatshare.com. You’ll get a unique link to claim and customize your profile. We look forward having you in our network!
I haven’t even read your actual post yet because just by “eating with my eyes” this looks insanely delicious! I am salivating and it’s only 10 in the morning! Ok…I’m gonna read your actual text now 🙂
I recently just started my own food blog and always love checking out other food blogs for inspiration. I came accross yours and loved it! This recipe looks absolutely delicious! Growing up in a Middle Eastern family, we always made kufta meatballs/kabobs. I’m always looking for new ways to make kufta! I will definitely have to try this recipe!
My, my, my do those look good! I love new recipes for meatballs. Everyone loves ’em, but they can get blah after a while. Same old, same old. These are such a fresh idea and will give a unexpected flavor profile. Can’t wait to try ’em. Oh and we do the same thing with the bottles…some weeks are just yikes!
This dish looks both elegant and fun to eat. Although I don’t eat lamb (I’m a pescetarian), I’m thinking this presentation would work with salmon “meatballs”? I’m pretty sure I would have to use different flavors with the salmon, but the presentation is so captivating. These Kofta meatballs look like edible jewels!
I’m Jaden Rae, a TV chef, cookbook author, recipe developer, and the creative force behind Steamy Kitchen, a 19-year food blog focused on Asian cuisine and mindful living. Steamy Kitchen has been featured on The List, the Today Show, Oprah.com, Martha Stewart Living Radio & more.
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comment section! I always appreciate your feedback and I know other readers do, too!
Stay in touch with me in our 
Making this again for a New Year’s Eve party – but the recipe doesn’t say where to add the parsley – I added it to the meatball’s none-the-less – we’re serving Kofta as an app along with caviar pie; the mushroom lasagna and beet salad with feta… Happy New Year!
Hi Jaden, loving your blog. So nice that you shared my kofta with cherry sauce recipe. I hope you’ve had a chance to try some more dishes from my book. Hope to see you sometime and maybe cook together. I’m launching a food blog soon and will be sharing so much.
When the cooking of meat is done, the meat is usually not
cooked evenly on all sides. Their grilling units
are all quality, upmarket, top of the line, well constructed and designed.
Get rid of the debris that is clogging it and test the igniter again.
I am truly pleased to read this website posts which carries
plenty of helpful facts, thanks for providing these kinds of information.
I just like the helpful info you provide on your articles.
I will bookmark your blog and check once more right
here frequently. I am fairly sure I’ll be informed many new stuff proper here! Best of luck for the next!
Simply want to say your article is as surprising. The clearness in your
publish is simply spectacular and that i could assume you’re an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission allow me to take hold of your RSS feed to stay updated with drawing close post. Thank you 1,000,000 and please carry on the gratifying work.
Undeniably believe that which you said.
Your favorite justification seemed to be on the web the simplest thing
to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people consider worries that they just don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
Currently it sounds like Movable Type is the best blogging platform
available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?
Hi there, just wanted to tell you, I loved this blog post.
It was practical. Keep on posting!
Hi I am so excited I found your site, I really found you by accident,
while I was looking on Bing for something else, Nonetheless I
am here now and would just like to say thanks
for a marvelous post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I
don’t have time to read it all at the minute but I have saved it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the fantastic job.
It’s really a nice and useful piece of info. I’m glad that you shared this useful info with
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Hi, I do think your site could possibly be having internet browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine
however when opening in I.E., it has some overlapping issues.
I merely wanted to provide you with a quick heads up!
Other than that, fantastic blog!
I do not drop a ton of comments, however i did
some searching and wound up here Kofta Meatballs with Sweet
and Sour Cherry Sauce | Steamy Kitchen Recipes. And I actually
do have a couple of questions for you if you usually do not mind.
Could it be just me or does it give the impression like some of the comments appear
like they are written by brain dead visitors? :
-P And, if you are posting on other social sites, I would like to follow everything fresh you
have to post. Would you list of all of all your shared sites
like your linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?
I don’t even understand how I finished up right here, however I believed this post used to be great. I don’t understand who you are however definitely you are going to a famous
blogger in the event you are not already. Cheers!
Hey! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against
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hello there and thank you for your info – I’ve definitely picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise a few technical points using this website, as I experienced to reload the website many times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining,
but slow loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and could damage
your high-quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords.
Well I am adding this RSS to my email and could look out for a lot more of your respective
exciting content. Make sure you update this again soon.
Hello there! I simply want to offer you a huge thumbs up
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Good day! I could have sworn I’ve visited this web site before but after browsing through some of the posts I realized it’s new to me.
Nonetheless, I’m definitely pleased I stumbled upon it and I’ll be book-marking
it and checking back regularly!
I’m amazed, I have to admit. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s both
educative and entertaining, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is something that too few people are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I
stumbled across this during my search for something relating to this.
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Good day! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of
volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche.
Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a outstanding job!
The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and
tested to see if it can survive a twenty five foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation.
My iPad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is
entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
Pretty! This was an extremely wonderful article.
Many thanks for providing this information.
Hey There. I discovered your weblog using msn. That is a very well written article.
I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to read extra of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I will definitely return.
I think this is one of the most significant information for me.
And i am glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things, The
website style is great, the articles is really excellent : D.
Good job, cheers
Hey there! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d figured I’d ask.
Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest authoring
a blog post or vice-versa? My blog discusses a lot of
the same subjects as yours and I think we could greatly benefit
from each other. If you might be interested feel free to shoot me an email.
I look forward to hearing from you! Fantastic blog by
the way!
I am making this recipe now for the third time. I’m taking it to a friend’s house who lost her beaux in a tragic biking accident one week ago. I know it’s going to bring sustenance and comfort (if at all possible) at this time – so thanks for this. It was the first thing I thought of when we said we would visit. I’ve been serving it with couscous and asparagus.
Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Very helpful information specially the last part 🙂 I care for such info a lot. I was seeking this particular information for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
Hello would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re working with? I’m going to
start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a difficult time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique.
P.S Apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!
I am throwing a birthday party next weekend for my hubby. Going to serve these as appetizers. Yum
OMG Jaden!!! This recipe sounds AH-mazing!
Made these yesterday for my husband who has been out of town on tour! He said he feels like he’s eating in a five star restaurant! Yummy! These would be great for a party! I didn’t have sparkling – but used water – learned that this is common in meatballs when googling for substitutions. I also made your bruschetta with ricotta, prosciutto, arugla drizzled with honey the day before! Looking for something for today… Tomorrow we start a 21 day cleanse – we want to go out on a bang!
I love of Middle Eastern flavors, especially lamb applications, so I will definitely make these soon!
Just curious: Why sparkling water? Don’t all the bubbles just get squished out when you mix the meatball ingredients? I’m really looking forward to an answer on this one, because the only application I’ve encountered before using sparkling water in a cooked recipe is interchangeable with beer to make light, air batter for deep-frying.
Just goes to show, “The day you stop learning is the day you start dying.”
Very interesting! I’ve never heard of that method using sparkling water. Looks delicious.
Hilarious about separating your recycle. That is a riot. I’m heading to FL next week for a week on the beach and was just thinking that I’d rather stay home. Pfft.
Oh my!! That looks amazing! I love cooking food with lamb, and am always on the look-out for new recipes with interesting flavors. Got this bookmarked and ready to go 🙂
I’d like to invite you to join the CookEatShare Author Network. I really enjoy your blog and I think the over 1 million unique montly visitors to CookEatShare.com will too.
By joining our Author Network, your blog posts will be indexed and users will be guided to your actual blog when searching your recipes or profile.
The service is free and easy to sign up for. Simply visit http://www.cookeatshare.com/blogs/apply or contact me at Kyra@cookeatshare.com. You’ll get a unique link to claim and customize your profile. We look forward having you in our network!
I haven’t even read your actual post yet because just by “eating with my eyes” this looks insanely delicious! I am salivating and it’s only 10 in the morning! Ok…I’m gonna read your actual text now 🙂
These look wonderful Jaden. Now I don’t know if the next recipe I make from you should be this or one from your awesome cookbook.
What tasty sounding meatballs!
I recently just started my own food blog and always love checking out other food blogs for inspiration. I came accross yours and loved it! This recipe looks absolutely delicious! Growing up in a Middle Eastern family, we always made kufta meatballs/kabobs. I’m always looking for new ways to make kufta! I will definitely have to try this recipe!
My, my, my do those look good! I love new recipes for meatballs. Everyone loves ’em, but they can get blah after a while. Same old, same old. These are such a fresh idea and will give a unexpected flavor profile. Can’t wait to try ’em. Oh and we do the same thing with the bottles…some weeks are just yikes!
These sound and look absolutely wonderful…..
Whoa, you are one busy lady! It looks as though your time in the kitchen paid off…these meatballs look fantastic.
This dish looks both elegant and fun to eat. Although I don’t eat lamb (I’m a pescetarian), I’m thinking this presentation would work with salmon “meatballs”? I’m pretty sure I would have to use different flavors with the salmon, but the presentation is so captivating. These Kofta meatballs look like edible jewels!
Alaiyo
These look delicious! I love meatballs especially lamb and pork meatballs. These are a must make.
A lamb meatball is definitely something I could get behind!
These are such gorgeous meatballs, LOVE the cherry sauce!