Ojja with Meatballs

Ojja with Meatballs
Tunisian Ojja is both easy to make and utterly delicious. In this version of ojja I've added some small meatballs.

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  Serves:  2       Print   

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Ingredients
For the Ojja
  • 2 tomatoes, diced
  • 4 eggs
  • 100 g (3½ oz) mild green chillies, deseeded and coarsely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1½ tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp caraway seeds
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Chopped parsley to garnish
For the meatballs
  • 150 g (5 oz) minced lamb or beef
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 5 tsp chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tsp dried mint
  • 1 tsp caraway seeds
  • 1 tsp harissa
  • Salt
  • Pepper
Instructions
Prepare the meatballs
  1. Place the meatball ingredients in a food processer. Blend to a dough.
  2. Use the dough to make small meatballs, about 1½ cm (5/8") in diameter.
Prepare the Ojja
  1. Heat the olive oil in a pan over a medium heat. Add the tomato paste and mix.
  2. Add the tomatoes, garlic and caraway seeds. Season with salt and pepper then fry gently for 5 minutes.
  3. Add 1 cup (250 ml) of hot water and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for 20 minutes.
  4. Add the mild green chillies and continue simmering for 10 minutes.
  5. Add the meatballs, cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring half way through.
  6. Push the meatballs to the side of the pan and add 4 eggs which have been broken into 4 separate small dishes. Continue cooking until the whites have set, then serve.
Titli's Tips
This is quite a filling meal for 2 people, but a little bread is useful for mopping up the gravy! It makes a nice appetiser for 4 people.


Instead of meatballs you can add merguez (spicy sausage), shrimp, dried herrings or even lamb's brains to the ojja!

Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving       % Daily Value
Calories 610 30%
Calories from Fat 423
Total Fat 47.0g 72%
Saturated Fat 12.9g 64%
Unsaturated Fat 30.6g
   
Amount Per Serving       % Daily Value
Total Carbohydrate 21.1g 7%
Dietary Fibre 4.5g 18%
Sugars 4.8g
Protein 26.8g 53%
Cholesterol 379.1mgs 126%
Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet.