Recipe: Barbecued Meat Balls with Cherries - Kufta Bil Karaz

Serves about 4

In Aleppo a special kind of bitter-black cherry, only found around the city, is used when preparing this dish.

1 pound finely ground lean lamb
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander seeds
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
large fresh pitted, or canned or candied cherries

Place all ingredients except cherries in a food processor, then process for a minute. Form into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter, wetting hands to keep meat from sticking. Place tight on skewers: one ball; one cherry, then press by hand on skewers to elongate. Barbecue until meat is done - from 5 to 10 minutes. Serve hot with cooked rice.

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