Homemade Moroccan Pasta Sauce Recipe with Mini Meatballs

To Make the Meatballs

1. Blend the ground beef, spices, garlic, and parsley.

2. Knead the mixture well, and shape it into tiny meatballs the size of marbles. Set aside.

To Make the Sauce

1. Peel, seed and chop the tomatoes. (OR you can quarter the tomatoes and stew them, covered, in about 1/4 cup of water for about 5 to 8 minutes, until the skin pulls off.

2. Pass the tomatoes through a food mill, discarding the skin and seeds.)

3. In a large, deep skillet or wide pot, heat the vegetable over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic and saute gently just until the garlic is fragrant; be careful not to burn the garlic.

4. Add the stewed or chopped tomatoes, the spices and about half of the parsley (reserve the rest of the parsley to add at the end of cooking).

5. Mix the tomato paste with enough water to make a sauce and add it to the pot. Stir to blend, and bring the sauce to a simmer.

6. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is reduced and thick, about 30 to 40 minutes. If the tomatoes were chopped instead of stewed, mash them with the back of the spoon as they cook.

7. Taste and adjust the seasoning, and add the meatballs and remaining parsley.

8. Simmer for a few minutes longer, or just until the meatballs are cooked through.

9. Remove from the heat and serve over spaghetti or another pasta of your choice.