Name: Red Kubba
Ingredients: 1 Pound lean beef ground or chicken; 1 small onion chopped fine; half a teaspoon of salt; 1/4 teaspoon of pepper; 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric; handful of chopped parsley; 2 cups of semolina; 1/4 teaspoon salt; dash of pepper; 1/4 teaspoon turmeric; 1 smal onion; 1 celery stalk; 2 cloves garlic; 2 cans of beets or 6-8 fresh beets (roasted, peeled and sliced)); 1 15 oz. can crushed tomatoes or two tablespoons tomato paste; 2 tablespoon vegetable oil; 1 tablespoon sugar; 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Authentic Iraqi dish: Sweet and Sour Beet Stew with Meatballs in Semolina Shell. My mother used to make it on Friday before Shabbat, all the kids and their friends would come to my house to eat it. They said, “We want the Red Kubba”.

Red Kubba

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Servings

Ingredients

1 Pound lean beef ground or chicken
1 small onion chopped fine
half a teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
1/4 teaspoon of turmeric
handful of chopped parsley
2 cups of semolina
1/4 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 smal onion
1 celery stalk
2 cloves garlic
2 cans of beets or 6-8 fresh beets roasted, peeled and sliced)
1 15 oz. can crushed tomatoes or two tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

Prepare the Meatballs with the shell
Mix together all the meatball ingredients
Put two cups of semolina in a mixing bowl
Add a touch of salt pepper and turmeric
Add water gradually until you make a smooth dough
Fill a small dish to wet your palms
Dip your hand in the water and cut the dough into small bowls a little smaller than a walnut
Flatten each piece of the dough with your wet fingers
Fill it with the meatball filling
Close it tightly with the tip of your fingers and roll it tightly until it forms a ball
Then Drop the ball (Kubba) into the boiling liquid
Put it on simmer for 30-35 minutes
Or preparehe Meatballs without the Shell
Mix all the meatball ingredients together
Dip your hand into a plate with oil so the meat does not stick to your hand, and form the meat mix into one inch balls Tip: before you make all of them try one out and cook it in the toaster to make sure the meatball is suitable to your taste, if it is not feel free to add spices to adjust it to your taste.
Place the meatballs on an oven tray covered in foil paper
Bake it for 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees, until lightly golden Tip: while cooking shake the tray with proper gloves to roll the balls
Remove the meatballs from the oven and put it in the beet sauce and let it cook for 20 – 30 minutes on medium heat
Making the Sauce
Sautee onion, garlic, celery, and oil for about 5-10 minutes
Then add tomatoes and sauté for another 5-10 minutes
Add about 2-3 cups of water, let it boil
Add in the sliced beets, and let it boil
Vegetarian Option
Replace Meat filling with Brussels sprouts