Hello everybody, it is Jim, welcome to our recipe site. Today, I’m gonna show you how to make a distinctive dish, greek meatballs. It is one of my favorites food recipes. For mine, I’m gonna make it a bit tasty. This is gonna smell and look delicious.
Greek Meatballs is one of the most popular of recent trending meals in the world. It is enjoyed by millions daily. It is simple, it’s fast, it tastes yummy. They’re fine and they look wonderful. Greek Meatballs is something that I’ve loved my entire life.
A traditional recipe, beautifully flavoured with red onion, fresh parsley, a touch of mint and hint of dried oregano. These meatballs are slightly crisp on the outside and are brilliant served as an appetiser with tzatiki and pita bread as part of a mezze spread (very Greek!), or as a meal with a salad. Meatballs are a favorite of mine, something we make often, if not on a weekly basis at my house.
To begin with this recipe, we have to prepare a few components. You can cook greek meatballs using 34 ingredients and 6 steps. Here is how you can achieve it.
The ingredients needed to make Greek Meatballs:
- Prepare For the meatballs
- Take 1 pound ground beef or pork, lamb, chicken, turkey (or combination of beef and pork)
- Get 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs (paleo - omit, gluten free - use GF breadcrumbs)
- Take 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- Prepare 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Get 1/4 cup finely chopped Kalamata olives (I use and recommend Lindsay Naturals Kalamata Olives)
- Take 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Make ready 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
- Prepare 1 large egg
- Take 1 teaspoon salt
- Make ready 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Take 1 teaspoon paprika
- Make ready 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Make ready 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- Prepare 3/4 teaspoon oregano
- Take 3/4 teaspoon thyme
- Take For the Roasted Vegetables:
- Get 1 medium eggplant (choose one that isn't too fat but more slender to avoid too many bitter seeds), peeled and diced into ¼ inch pieces
- Make ready 5 cloves garlic, peels left intact
- Take 2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Prepare SAUCE
- Make ready 1 medium red onion, chopped
- Get 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Take 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and diced
- Get 1/2 cup dry red wine (or use white if using chicken or turkey)
- Make ready 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes (I recommend certified San Marzano's from Italy)
- Prepare 1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained
- Make ready 1 teaspoon salt
- Take 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Prepare 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- Make ready 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- Prepare 1 cup whole Kalamata olives, drained (I use and recommend Lindsay Naturals Kalamata Olives)
- Make ready 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Make ready 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce are perfect for dinner or an appetizer! Loaded with spices, lemon zest and even feta cheese, they are sure to please anyone who loves Greek flavors! The past couple days the weather in Denver has been absolutely gorgeous! This is my yia yia's recipe–a family favorite straight from the village of Kyparissia.
Steps to make Greek Meatballs:
- First we’re going to get the eggplant going so that can roast while we’re working on the other stuff. Select an eggplant that is on the narrow side. Fat ones tend to have more seeds which results in a bitter flavor. The peel also tends to be bitter in flavor and tough in texture, so peel the eggplant completely. - - Dice it into chunks about 1/4 inch in size. You can make them larger if you prefer. - - Don’t worry about tossing them with lemon juice to prevent them from getting brown. They’re going to get very brown while roasting them anyway. - - First get the roasted eggplant and garlic going. Toss them with a little salt and the olive oil and spread them out single-layer on a lined cookie sheet. Roast for about 20 minutes or until nicely browned, turning once with a spatula after about 10 minutes. Remove Set aside. Once cool, peel and mince the roasted garlic.
- Combine all of the meatball ingredients in a large bowl. Use your hands or a food processor to incorporate the ingredients. Form the mixture into 1-inch balls (you can make them larger if you prefer).
- Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the meatballs on all sides (See NOTE for oven baking method). Transfer the meatballs to a plate and set aside.
- Add the red onions and the oil if more is needed and cook them until soft and caramelized, about 6-8 minutes. Add the red bell pepper and cook for another couple of minutes until softened. Add the wine and bring it to a rapid boil. Boil for 2 minutes.
- Add the roasted eggplant, roasted garlic and all of the sauce ingredients, except for the olives, parsley and mint, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Return the meatballs to the sauce, cover and simmer for another 15 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the whole Kalamata olives, cover and simmer for another 5 minutes then stir in the chopped parsley and mint.
- Garnish with some extra parsley and mint and serve with crusty bread, rice or orzo and a Greek or leafy green salad
Serve as an appetizer or with tzatziki, Greek salata, and pita or pasta for a full meal. They taste best served at room temp and make for wonderful leftovers. If you don't care for lamb, try using all beef instead. Soak the bread in the milk. A traditional Greek lamb meatballs recipe (Keftedes arni).
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