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    You Are Here Home » Assyrian Recipes

    Published: Jan 24, 2020 Updated: Aug 5, 2022 by Hilda Sterner | This post may contain affiliate links 6 Comments

    Meatball Stew (Ras Asfour Recipe)

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    meatball stew pin

    This Meatball Stew is known as Ras Asfour in the Middle East. Flavorful mini-meatballs are simmered in a tomato-based stew, along with peas and potatoes. This stew is usually served over Assyrian Vermicelli Rice with pickles on the side.

    stew and pickled runchokes

    "Ras Asfour" (also spelled Ras Asfoor/ Ras Al Asfour) means "bird heads" in Arabic. TMI? Probably. But don't worry, that term simply describes the size of the meatballs to the size of a bird's head. In other words, no birds were harmed in the making of this stew.

    I'll never forget when I was working on my cookbook and actually considered using a direct translation of "Ras Asfour" and naming the recipe "Bird Head Stew."

    Luckily, my wise friend, Diane, who was helping me edit my cookbook convinced me otherwise.

    Jump to:
    • 🛒 What You Need To Make This Recipe
    • 🥔 How to Make Ras Asfour
    • 👩🏼‍🍳 Pro Tips
    • 🥘Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments
    Ras Asfour/ meatball stew in a  white dish

    🛒 What You Need To Make This Recipe

    recipe ingredients, labeled
    recipe ingredients, labeled

    🥔 How to Make Ras Asfour

    Meatballs

    STEP 1: To make the meatballs, add ground beef to a bowl along with minced onions, chopped parsley, salt, black pepper, allspice, and curry. Using your hands, work the ingredients together until fully blended.

    meat mix in a sliver bowl
    meat mixture in a bowl

    STEP 2: Pinch off small pieces of meat (approximately the size of a bird's head) and roll them between your palms to shape them into small balls. Repeat with the remaining meat mixture until the mixture is used up.

    mini-meatballs on a cutting board

    Prepare the Stew

    STEP 3: Heat oil in a medium-sized pot and fry the meatballs. After a few minutes, add cubed potatoes. Fry for up to five minutes or until browned.

    meatballs in a pot
    raw meatballs and cubed potatoes in a pot
    potatoes and mini meatballs cooking in a pot

    STEP 4: Heat 3 cups of water and add the tomato paste. Stir until dissolved. Add chopped tomato, parsley, salt, and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Pour sauce over the meatballs and potatoes, followed by the frozen peas.

    tomato sauce with diced parsley in a large measuring cup
    Ras Asfour stew in a pot

    STEP 5: Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, for 30 minutes.

    Ras Asfour stew in a pot ready to cook
    meatball stew in a pot

    STEP 6: Meanwhile, prepare plain white rice or vermicelli rice. Serve Meatball Stew accompanied by rice and pickled sunchokes or other mixed pickles/torshi.

    ras asfour stew on rice

    Another way to enjoy this stew is with bread/pita bread. The bread is either dipped into the stew or torn into chunks with the stew poured over it.

    👩🏼‍🍳 Pro Tips

    • For a thicker stew, add an additional tablespoon of tomato paste.
    • If you like spicy food, add ¼ tsp. of cayenne pepper to the stew prior to simmering it.
    • A few cloves of garlic added to the stew prior to simmering it would be a great addition.
    • When making the meatballs, some of the onion inevitably falls out. Instead of tossing it, add it to the stew for more flavor.
    • For an even healthier version, use ground turkey instead of beef.

    🥘Related Recipes

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      Okra Ladies Fingers Stew (Bamia)
    • Fasolia (bean stew)
      Fasolia (Assyrian Green Bean Stew)
    • potato stew with herbs on the side
      Lamb or Beef Potato Stew
    • snap peas in a pan and on a fork
      Roasted Sugar Snap Peas

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    📖 Recipe

    stew and pickled runchokes

    Meatball Stew (Ras Asfour)

    Mini-meatballs simmered in a tomato stew, with peas, and cubed potatoes.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: Assyrian, Middle Eastern
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Calories: 272kcal
    Author: Hilda Sterner

    Ingredients

    Meatballs

    • ½ lb. lean ground beef
    • 1 small onion (minced)
    • ¼ cup Italian parsley (chopped)
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon allspice
    • ½ teaspoon curry powder

    Stew

    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 1 large potato (cubed)
    • 3 cups hot water
    • 3 ounce tomato paste (½ a can)
    • 1 tomato (chopped)
    • ¼ cup Italian parsley (chopped)
    • 1 tsp. salt
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 8 ounces frozen peas

    Instructions

    Meatballs

    • Add ground beef to a bowl along with minced onions, chopped parsley, salt, black pepper, allspice, and curry. Using your hands, work the ingredients together until fully blended.
    • Pinch off small pieces of meat (approximately the size of a bird's head) and roll them between your palms to shape them into small balls. Repeat with the remaining meat mixture until the mixture is used up.

    Stew

    • Heat oil in a medium-sized pot and fry the meatballs. After a few minutes, add cubed potatoes. Fry for up to five minutes or until browned.
    • Heat 3 cups of water and add the tomato paste. Stir until dissolved. Add chopped tomato, parsley, salt, and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Pour sauce over the meatballs and potatoes, followed by the frozen peas.
    • Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, for 30 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, prepare plain white rice or vermicelli rice. Serve Meatball Stewaccompanied by rice and pickled sunchokes or other mixed pickles/torshi.

    Notes

    • For a thicker stew, add an additional tablespoon of tomato paste.
    • If you like spicy food, add ¼ tsp. of cayenne pepper to the stew prior to simmering it.
    • A few cloves of garlic added to the stew prior to simmering it would be a great addition.
    • When making the meatballs, some of the onion inevitably falls out. Instead of tossing it, add it to the stew for more flavor.
    • For an even healthier version, use ground turkey instead of beef.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 272kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 1063mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g
    Tried this Recipe? Please leave A Star Rating!Mention @HildasKitchenBlog or tag #HildasKitchenBlog!

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    1. Wendy says

      September 22, 2022 at 1:10 pm

      Hi Hilda. What’s the amount of peas you put in the stew? Thank you.

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        September 22, 2022 at 5:47 pm

        Hi Wendy, Thank you so much for your comment and question. I must've accidentally deleted that info the last time I updated the post. I went ahead and fixed it to show you need 8 ounces of frozen peas.

        Reply
    2. Nicole Temkin says

      November 02, 2021 at 11:07 am

      5 stars
      I made this the other night and we absolutely loved it! I love the unique combination of spices -- which is what first drew me to Hilda's recipes. I will definitely be making this again soon!

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        November 02, 2021 at 1:25 pm

        Thanks, Nicole, what a sweet comment! I really appreciate the review. ❤️

        Reply
    3. Teresa Evers says

      January 26, 2020 at 8:36 pm

      5 stars
      Hilda’s Meatball Stew was a hit in my home tonight . I found it simple and quick to prepare. I served the stew over a bed of white rice . I used turkey instead of beef. Simply delicious and filling . Thank you Hilda.

      Reply
      • HildaSterner says

        January 27, 2020 at 1:12 pm

        Thanks, Teresa. I love the fact that you're always willing to try out my recipes and come back and leave a review. Thank you so much!

        Reply

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