Kofta Tagine
Spiced meatballs simmered in tomato with baked eggs.
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Join HomecookedIngredients
- 500 g Ground beef
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Ras el hanout
- 400 g Canned tomatoes
- 1 Onion
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 4 Egg
- 3 tbsp Cilantro
- 3 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp Salt
Method
- Mix the beef with the cumin, half the ras el hanout, and salt, then roll into small meatballs.
- Soften the chopped onion and garlic in the oil over medium heat, then add the tomatoes and remaining ras el hanout and simmer into a sauce, about 8 minutes.
- Nestle the meatballs into the sauce and simmer until cooked through, about 12 minutes.
- Make wells in the sauce, crack an egg into each, cover, and cook until the whites are set, about 6 minutes.
- Scatter the cilantro over the top and serve with bread.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.
About Kofta Tagine
Kofta tagine is a North African–inflected Mediterranean dish of spiced meatballs simmered in a tomato sauce, finished with eggs cracked directly into the pan — a cousin of shakshuka built around meat. Kofta refers to the seasoned ground-meat balls, here beef mixed with cumin and ras el hanout, the complex Moroccan spice blend that gives the dish its warm, layered aroma. The name tagine points to the traditional conical clay vessel used across the Maghreb, though the same one-pan braise works in any skillet. It's rustic, communal food meant to be scooped up rather than plated.
The dish tastes deeply savory and gently spiced: the ras el hanout brings floral, peppery warmth without sharp heat, the tomatoes cook down into a rich, jammy base, and the beef stays tender from its short simmer in the sauce. Cracking eggs into wells and covering the pan lets the whites set while the yolks stay soft, adding richness and turning it into a full meal. Cilantro scattered over the top brings a fresh, herbal lift against all that spice and tomato. Naturally low-carb on its own, it's traditionally served straight from the pan with bread for mopping up the sauce and runny yolk — good for a relaxed brunch or an easy weeknight dinner that comes together in about forty minutes.
Kofta Tagine: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Kofta Tagine?
One serving of Kofta Tagine has about 608 calories, with 22g of protein, 18g of carbs, 50g of fat and 3g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact portions and brands.
Is Kofta Tagine gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Kofta Tagine has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How many servings does Kofta Tagine make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.