Greek Style Meatballs – Keftedes
Meatballs are a true family favorite and perfect to make ahead for freezing and serving at a later date. Greek Style Meatballs – Keftedes are made with beef, pork and the all-important Mediterranean flavor combinations of lemon, mint and customary Mediterranean spices. In true traditional fashion, Greek Meatballs are served with tzatziki sauce and pita.
Whether it’s a weeknight meal or a family Sunday dinner, meatballs are always a good idea. This is because you can make them in batches and any quantities you like so they’re perfect for feeding a crowd or a large family!
How to Make Greek Meatballs
Ground beef and pork are mixed together with delicious Greek flavors. Like mint, oregano, cumin along with onion, garlic, egg and breadcrumbs.
What’s the most popular type of meatball we all know and love? Why, Italian, of course! I love my easy chicken meatballs (picture below) and sometimes my pork and ricotta, which are both Italian. The Greek’s wanted to get in on the meatball action too. They just serve them differently, which are a delicious departure from the norm.
How to serve Greek Meatballs/Keftedes
You can serve these traditional Greek meatballs in tomato sauce. But, I’m a traditionalist and want to stay true to the history of food in cultures. Plus, I want to enjoy them the way the Greeks do, with a yogurt sauce (tzatziki) with lemon and mint. Such a refreshing flavor combination!
As an alternative to the typical mix of ground beef and pork, lamb is also a flavorful option served in Greece.
When it comes to side dish ideas, that’s an easy one. You can serve them with a simple orzo or rice. Another way I love to enjoy them (especially during the summer months) is on a bed of lettuce with cucumber, tomato and red onion, just like a salad.
This recipe yields 16 dinner size meatballs. You can also make them smaller and serve as a mini-meatball appetizer for entertaining or your favorite game day.
These keftedes are pan fried, which speeds up the cooking process. This can be messy and not so healthy, so if you don’t want to fry them, you can bake them. Just spread them in an even layer on a large baking sheet and bake at 400°F/200°C drizzled with a little oil to help brown for 15 minutes until browned.
If you’ve made these Greek Style Meatballs – Keftedes or have a question regarding the recipe, leave it in the comment are below. I love to hear from my readers.
Greek Style Meatballs – Keftedes
Video
Ingredients
For the sauce:
- 1 cup (215 grams) plain Greek yogurt
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
For the meatballs:
- ½ pound (225 grams) ground beef
- ½ pound (225 grams) ground pork
- ¼ cup (22 grams) breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg, whisked
- 3 tablespoons onion, grated
- 2 garlic cloves grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 cups (1 liter) vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
Make the sauce:
- Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix well. Refrigerate until needed.
Make the meatballs:
- To a large mixing bowl add the beef, pork, egg, onion, garlic, mint, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper. Mix well then refrigerate for 20 minutes.
- Scoop 2 tablespoons meat mix and form into 16 balls.
To pan fry:
- Add oil to a high-sided pan and heat to 350°F/177°C. Fry the meatballs for 7-10 minutes until they are evenly browned on the outside and read 145°F/63°C on the inside using a meat thermometer.
To cook in the oven:
- Preheat oven to 375°F/190°C. Place the meatballs evenly apart on a large baking sheet. Brush lightly with oil and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F/75°F.
To air fry:
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F/175°C. Place as many meatballs in the basket will fit without crowding and cook for about 10 minutes or until cooked through. Keep warm in the oven while the cook the remaining meatballs.
Sooo goood!!served them with a greek salad.
Yum, thank you for sharing
How can you be certain that the meatballs are cooked on the inside? How about making cocktail size with this recipe.
The best way to make sure the meatballs are cooked on the inside is why I suggest using a meat thermometer. Cocktail-size meatballs would also be a great idea for an appetizer.