Quick Kidney and Kefta Tagine

Quick Kidney and Kefta Tagine is a medium Moroccan recipe that serves 4. 560 calories per serving. Recipe by Lynoucha's Kitchen on YouTube.

Prep: 50 min | Cook: 55 min | Total: 2 hrs

Cost: $22.97 total, $5.74 per serving

Ingredients

  • 500 g Veal kidneys (Cleaned, cut into thin strips then into small dice)
  • 4 c. à soupe Olive oil (Divided for cooking the kidneys, the kefta and the tagine)
  • 1 pièce White onion (Finely sliced)
  • 1 pièce Red onion (Finely sliced)
  • 3 pièces Garlic cloves (Crushed or minced)
  • 30 g Fresh parsley (Chopped, half at the start, half at the end of cooking)
  • 30 g Fresh cilantro (Chopped, half at the start, half at the end of cooking)
  • 400 g Ground beef (Can be replaced by ground lamb or turkey)
  • 2 pièces Tomatoes (Sliced into rounds)
  • 1 c. à café Sweet paprika
  • 1 c. à café Ground cumin
  • ½ c. à café Hot chili powder (Adjust to taste)
  • ½ c. à café Ground black pepper
  • 1 c. à café Salt
  • 200 g Button mushrooms (Sliced)
  • 150 g Cherry tomatoes (Halved)
  • 1 pièce Cucumber (Sliced into rounds)
  • 5 pièces Radishes (Thinly sliced)
  • 150 g Mixed green salad (For the salad base)
  • 1 pièce Banana (Sliced)
  • ½ pièce Mango (Diced)
  • 1 pièce Orange (Juice squeezed, pulp cut into pieces)
  • 1 c. à café Orange blossom water (To flavor the fruit salad)

Instructions

  1. Cut the kidneys

    Cut the veal kidneys into thin strips lengthwise, then into very small dice. If you have difficulty, ask your butcher to do it.

    Time: PT10M

  2. Brown the kidneys

    In a sauté pan, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add the kidneys and brown them for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until they change color.

    Time: PT10M

    Temperature: Feu moyen

  3. Prepare the aromatics

    Finely slice the white onion, red onion and garlic. Chop the parsley and cilantro. Reserve half of the herb mixture for the end of cooking.

    Time: PT5M

  4. Simmer the kidneys with the aromatics

    In the same sauté pan, add the remaining aromatics (onions, garlic, parsley, cilantro) and the reserved kidneys. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Time: PT20M

    Temperature: Feu moyen

  5. Prepare the kefta meatballs

    In a bowl, combine the ground meat with the remaining aromatics, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp cumin, ½ tsp hot chili powder, pepper, salt and 1 tbsp olive oil. Work the mixture with your hands then shape small balls about 2 cm in diameter.

    Time: PT10M

  6. Arrange the vegetable bed in the tagine

    At the bottom of the tagine, spread white onion rounds (or a mix of white/red) and tomato slices in an even layer.

    Time: PT5M

  7. Cook the kefta

    Place the kefta balls on the vegetable bed, drizzle with olive oil, cover the tagine and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes.

    Time: PT20M

    Temperature: Feu moyen

  8. Add the kidneys and reduce the sauce

    Add the kidneys with their sauce to the tagine, stir gently and continue cooking for 5 to 6 minutes over medium heat until the sauce reduces slightly.

    Time: PT6M

    Temperature: Feu moyen

  9. Finish with herbs

    Sprinkle the reserved parsley and cilantro over the dish, adjust seasoning if needed.

    Time: PT2M

  10. Prepare the green salad

    In a bowl, combine the mixed green salad, sliced mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and radishes. Dress with an olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper vinaigrette.

    Time: PT10M

  11. Prepare the fruit salad

    Cut the banana, mango and orange into pieces. Mix in a bowl, drizzle with orange juice and add 1 tsp orange blossom water. Refrigerate until serving.

    Time: PT10M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
560
Protein
30 g
Carbohydrates
32 g
Fat
28 g
Fiber
6 g

Dietary info: Gluten-free, Dairy-free, High-protein, high-protein, high-fiber

Last updated: April 7, 2026

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Quick Kidney and Kefta Tagine

Recipe by Lynoucha's Kitchen

An express Moroccan tagine combining tender veal kidneys and spicy kefta meatballs, served with a crunchy green salad and a fragrant orange blossom fruit salad. Ideal for a family weekday meal.

MediumMoroccanServes 4

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

Source Video
47m
Prep
1h 1m
Cook
13m
Cleanup
2h 1m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$22.97
Total cost
$5.74
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • Brown the kidneys properly to achieve a nice color and firm texture.
  • Reduce the kidney sauce to achieve a glossy consistency.
  • Form the kefta balls without overworking the meat.

Safety Warnings

  • Watch out for hot oil when browning the kidneys.
  • Handle raw meats with separate utensils to avoid cross-contamination.
  • Ensure the kidneys reach an internal temperature of at least 70 °C.

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