Harissa Spiced Chickpeas
With tons of flavour, this protein packed harissa spiced chickpeas and meatballs dinner will keep you satisfied, but will always have you wanting more.
When I come home late from work after a hard day, I try to make something quick and satisfying. This usually translates into something simple like pasta. But I am also trying to limit my pasta intake and making leaner choices.
This one has quickly become one of my go to recipes as of late. It is so easy to make and the flavours are so different from what I typically make - which just makes me crave more!
Before trying the Knorr Harissa spice mix, I really wasn't sure what to expect. But it is a delicious blend of earthy spices, with a bit of a kick to it! I'll be honest, my pepper tolerance isn't very high, (I usually don't order anything over medium spice level!) so if you do want more of a kick to it, feel free to add chili flakes or more hot sauce!
I love this recipe even more because you can easily omit the meatballs if you are vegetarian or making this as a "meatless Monday" meal. Because of the chickpeas, the protein levels are already really high in this recipe. It's also perfect for those post-workout meals when you are looking for an extra dose of protein!
To make this healthier, I personally like to serve this recipe over brown rice for dinners, but you can easily swap the brown rice for white rice, couscous or even quinoa .
I personally love this recipe because it’s full of protein and has tons of flavour! You can also take leftovers into work as part of a bowl - just add some vegetables and you're ready to go!
Makes: 4 servings
Preptime:
Cook time:
- In a bowl, mix the ground beef, egg, worcester sauce, 1 tsp Knorr Harissa seasoning, onions, garlic, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning together. Mix well and form 1 inch diameter balls
- In a skillet with 1 tbsp of oil, and place onmedium-high heat
- Once hot, place meatballs in the skillet, browning on all sides for 8-10 minutes. Set aside.
- In the same skillet add chicken or vegetable stock, tomato paste. Simmer for approximately 8 minutes or until it reduces to about half.
- add 1 tsp Knorr Harissa seasoning and stir well.
- add 1 can of drained and washed chickpeas to the sauce and let simmer for 2-3 minutes.
Braised, Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks
If you are entertaining this season, this is the only entree to serve your guests! It is literally, fall off the bone perfection. Delicious!
‘Tis the season for getting together with friends and family.
For as long as I can remember, our family has been making a turkey for Christmas dinners. And I am so over it.
I’m sick of carrying a 15 pound bird from the grocery store.
I’m sick of basting the bird every half hour.
I’m sick of the same tasting bird year after year. …After year. …After year.
So this year, I decided to change it up. I wanted something easy – that didn’t look like it was easy.
I wanted something that looked refined and elegant, and tasted delicious. And most of all, I wanted something easy.
I have a serious love for my slow cooker. You couldn’t pry it away from me. I love finding new recipes for my slow cooker. It really is the best “set it and forget it” kitchen appliance.
Every time I go out for dinner, I check to see if lamb is on the menu. And if it is, that’s what I’m getting! So why not make it at home. This recipe is just as delicious. And when you make it at home, its always a fraction of the price (and who doesn’t love that?!!?)
I sear the lamb shanks before putting it in the slow cooker. This seals all that delicious flavor in. The red wine also adds a beautiful richness to the lamb. And I guarantee you, there is no “gamey” taste so often associated with lamb with this recipe.
For the ed wine, don’t bother getting anything expensive. I usually use whatever is leftover from a night with the girls – as long as it hasn’t been open for too long and turned acidic.
If you are entertaining this season, this is the only entree to serve your guests! It is literally, fall off the bone perfection.
I serve this with chive and cheddar mash potatoes, drizzled with the lamb gravy, and grilled asparagus. Delicious!
Believe me, this recipe is sure to impress your guest!
Description of Recipe
Serves: 4
Prep time:
Cook time:
- 4 lamb shanks
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 350 ml red wine
- 250 ml beef or chicken broth
- flour
- salt and black pepper to taste
- a spring of rosemary
- olive oil
- heat a frying pan with a little olive oil on medium high heat
- clean lamb shanks of access fat and pat dry
- season lamb with salt and pepper
- dust lamb in flour
- sear lamb in the frying pan on all sides until a light crust forms
- place lamb in the slow cooker
- deglaze frying pan with the red wine and let simmer for5 minutes
- add onions, garlic, rosemary, broth and wine to the slow cooker
- set slow cooker for 6 hours
Smokey Grilled Lamb Chops
it's no secret, I have a deep love for lamb.
it's no secret, I have a deep love for lamb.
If I go out to a restaurant and see lamb on the menu, I usually stop looking. My mind has been made up.
I think its because I grew up with it as often as I did with your more common meats like beef and chicken. Lamb was typically part of a weekly meal. For me, lamb is comfort food.
I know many people still stay away from it saying is has a "gamey" taste but I believe its all in how you clean it. Lamb does have a lot of fat, and when that fat isn't trimmed properly, that gamey taste is more pronounced. I trim off as much fat as possible - I also hate chewing on fat so that most definitely has a lot to do with it. I also do a quick rinse in white vinegar. And when I say a "quick rinse", I mean no more than 30 seconds. I'm not really 100% sure why, but this is how my parents have always cleaned meat and I just continue it. My mom used to say that if its in vinegar for long it would start to cook the meat and we're not trying to do that just yet!
While my parents prefer all of their meats cooked well done, I prefer mine medium rare - especially lamb. Its such a delicate meat when cooked this way. And it takes less time to cook, which is perfect for those nights when you just came home from work and nothing is prepared.
Which is why this recipe is so perfect. it's quick and easy. And I love easy.
I made mine on a cast iron grill but you can easily do this on the barbecue. I added a little bit of liquid smoke (a little goes a long way!) because I love that smokiness. You can find the liquid smoke at most grocery stores now and of course at your local specialty shops as well. Because you only need so little for each recipe, the bottle lasts a long time! Everything else in this recipe, you probably already have in your fridge.
Smokey Grilled Lamb Chops
Serves: 4
Prep time:
Cook time:
- 4 lamb shoulder chops
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 4 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 2-3 shakes liquid chipotle smoke
- 2 garlic cloves – roughly chopped
- a few slices red onion
- black pepper to taste
- mix all ingredients together
- Preheat a cast ion grill to medium high heat
- grill on each side for 2-3 minutes for a medium rare (or longer if you prefer a more well done lamb).