Homemade African Meatballs

Homemade African Meatballs is a easy West Africa recipe that serves 4. 260 calories per serving. Recipe by LA CUISINE D’AMA on YouTube.

Prep: 15 min | Cook: 10 min | Total: 35 min

Cost: $7.07 total, $1.77 per serving

Ingredients

  • 500 g Ground beef (Can be replaced with pork or lamb)
  • 1 unit Medium onion (Peeled and finely grated)
  • 1 unit Egg (At room temperature)
  • 1 tablespoon Fine salt
  • 0.5 tablespoon Ground black pepper (Preferably freshly ground)
  • 2 tablespoons Maggi cube (beef broth) (About 2 cubes, dissolved in the meat)
  • 2 tablespoons Beef seasoning (Commercial spice blend)
  • 500 ml Vegetable oil (sunflower or peanut) (For frying, heat to 180 °C)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the ingredients

    Peel the onion and grate it finely. Bring the egg to room temperature.

    Time: PT5M

  2. Mix the meat and seasonings

    In a large bowl, crack the egg over the ground meat, add the grated onion, salt, pepper, crumbled Maggi cubes and beef seasoning. Mix by hand until everything is homogeneous.

    Time: PT5M

  3. Form the meatballs

    With clean hands, take portions of meat and roll to form medium-sized meatballs (about 2 cm in diameter). Place the meatballs on a plate.

    Time: PT5M

  4. Heat the oil

    Pour the vegetable oil into the pan and heat over medium‑high heat until it reaches about 180 °C (or test with a small meatball that rises immediately).

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: 180°C

  5. Fry the meatballs

    Drop the meatballs into the hot oil, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Turn them regularly with a spatula so they brown evenly. Cook for about 8 minutes until they are nicely browned.

    Time: PT8M

    Temperature: 180°C

  6. Drain

    Remove the meatballs with a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to remove excess oil.

    Time: PT2M

  7. Serve

    Serve the hot meatballs with the sauce of your choice (tomato, chili, or yogurt).

    Time: PT0M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
260
Protein
20 g
Carbohydrates
2 g
Fat
18 g
Fiber
0 g

Dietary info: non-vegetarian, can be adapted gluten‑free by using a gluten‑free broth, low-carb, keto-friendly, low-calorie

Allergens: egg, gluten (Maggi)

Last updated: April 11, 2026

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Homemade African Meatballs

Recipe by LA CUISINE D’AMA

Savory meatballs inspired by West African cuisine, easy to prepare and fry. Perfect with tomato sauce, rice or couscous, these little wonders are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

EasyWest AfricaServes 4

Shop all ingredients on Amazon in one click • Printable PDF with shopping checklist

Source Video
22m
Prep
8m
Cook
10m
Cleanup
40m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$7.07
Total cost
$1.77
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • Mix the meat until homogeneous without over‑working it
  • Heat the oil to the correct temperature (≈180 °C)
  • Fry the meatballs, turning them regularly to prevent burning

Safety Warnings

  • Very hot oil can cause splatters – handle with care and wear oven mitts.
  • Never leave the pan unattended while frying.

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