Recipe Mtewem in White Sauce (Algerian Meatballs with Garlic)

5.0 from 5 votes

This Mtewem or Tajine Mtewem recipe is an Algerian recipe that consists of meatballs, pieces of beef, garlic and chickpeas, among other things. The meatballs are made in a white sauce with garlic which is very easy to prepare, they get soft and delicious. This recipe has a lot of garlic and is ideal for garlic lovers.

Why make this Algerian Mtewem in White Sauce recipe

Algerian Meatballs with Garlic or Mtewem, are a delight of the Algerian cuisine. They are soft meatballs made in a delicious sauce with an intense garlic aroma. If you love garlic, this recipe is undoubtedly for you. In fact, the word Mtewem means garlic…

It's a dish that is prepared on special occasions such as Ramadan. Although in my house this delicacy is often prepared, since it's a very easy recipe to prepare, and I also usually have all the ingredients I need to make Mtewem at home. There are two variants of this recipe, you can prepare it in white sauce like this recipe or in red sauce. Mtewem in white sauce is what we usually eat at home. Some recipes add almonds, this is not the case with this Mtewem recipe, but if you have them on hand and want to add them, feel free to make this Mtewem recipe however you like. 🙂

I hope you enjoy this simple but delicious Algerian recipe as much as my family does.

Ingredients you need to make this Mtewem Recipe

To make this Algerian Meatballs recipe, you don't need many ingredients. Below is the list of ingredients that I have used to make this recipe:

Ingredients you need to make the meatballs:

• Minced beef: you need around 500 grams of minced beef
• Onion: a bit of diced onion
• Garlic: two garlic cloves pressed
• Cumin: 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin
• Egg: you need one egg size L
• Bread crumbs: one tablespoon of bread crumbs
• Salt and pepper: salt and pepper to taste

Ingredients you need to make the sauce:

• A piece of beef: you need a piece of beef of the size you want, it depends on how many people are going to eat
• Chickpeas: 3/4 cup canned chickpeas
• Cumin: 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin
• Onion: 1 white onion diced
• Garlic puree: you need puree of 6 garlic cloves, you can do this very easily, in two ways. One is to put the unpeeled garlic cloves inside a piece of aluminum foil for about half an hour in the oven at about 210ºC. The second is to fry them (without peeling) in a pan with a splash of oil until they are soft. Remove the skin and mash them with a fork, you now have your garlic puree
• Water: you need about 750 ml of water
• Salt and pepper: salt and pepper to taste
• Olive oil: you need a splash of olive oil
• Fresh parsley: use some chopped fresh parsley to decorate

Kitchen utensils you need to make this recipe

In order to make this recipe you need the following kitchen utensils:

• Pot: you need a pot with a lid
• Cutting board and a knife: a cutting board and knife to cut the vegetables
• Spoon: you need a spoon to stir the ingredients
• Garlic press: a garlic press to press the garlic for the meatballs
• Measuring glass: a measuring glass to measure the amount of water needed

How to make Mtewem in White Sauce

If you can, prepare the mixture for the meatballs a while before (from 30 minutes to 2 hours before), this way the meat absorbs the flavor of the seasonings. To make this, simply mix all the ingredients for the meatballs.

While you have the ground beef mixed with all the ingredients, and is resting, brown the beef in the pot with a little splash of olive oil. Add the onion and garlic puree and let the onion soften for a few minutes. Add the ground cumin and salt and pepper to taste.

Add the water (hot) and chickpeas, and leave it on medium heat for about 40 minutes with the lid on.

Once this time has passed, add the meatballs and leave it for about 30 minutes over medium heat.

Garnish with a little parsley and enjoy it served with, for example, baked potatoes and bread to dip into the sauce.

Frequently asked questions

Below I answer some frequently asked questions, if you do not find the answer, you can leave a comment below. I will be happy to resolve any doubt.

Can I use another type of meat other than beef?

Yes, just swap the piece of beef for chicken or lamb. You could also use minced chicken or lamb for the meatballs if you prefer. The recipes are to be made to your liking and convenience. 🙂

Can I prepare this Mtewem recipe in advance?

This recipe is perfect to prepare in advance. You just have to heat the pot with Mtewem for a few minutes before you are going to serve it, and that's it!

How do I store Mtewem?

You can store it in the fridge for about 3 days in a tightly closed container.

Save this Mtewem recipe on Pinterest!

Save this recipe on Pinterest so that you won't lose it. Like this, when you go are going to make it, you don't go crazy looking for this recipe on the website. You just have to click on the Pinterest button below where it says “Spread the love”, and this recipe will automatically be saved on a board on your Pinterest account.

If you like this Algerian recipe, check out the following recipes

If you like this recipe, you will love the following recipes:

• You are going to love this easy recipe to make Chicken with Chickpeas in a delicious homemade tomato sauce (Chtitha Djedj). It's an Algerian recipe that you can prepare in an hour or less, making it ideal for days when you don't have much time to cook, but want to serve a nutritious and delicious meal.
• This classic Algerian dish: Tajine Zitoune or also Chicken Tajine, chicken made in a sauce with olives, very aromatic and with a sweet touch.
• Try this recipe to make Algerian Dolma, it's zucchini and potatoes stuffed with minced meat in a simple but delicious sauce. It's easy to make, healthy and above all delicious.
• If you love pizza, you can't miss this Pizza Carrée. It's a pizza with a delicious base, it's different from the ones you have tried, and has a very basic tomato sauce on top. It's decorated with black olives and no matter how simple it may seem, you will love it. You can add cheese, tuna or any ingredient you fancy.
• If you prefer Cocas, try this Algerian Coca, filled with a spiced tomato and onion sauce. You can add ingredients such as pieces of chicken breast or cheese.
• And of course, don't forget to accompany this dish with freshly baked bread like these Baguettes or these Crunchy Bread Rolls and a glass of Homemade Lemonade.

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