GotGarlic
02-07-2010, 06:28 PM
Greek Meatballs (Keftedes)
These are great served over egg noodles (my choice) or rice with a Greek salad, and they make a nice potluck item. Making 1.5 times as much will fill a 2-quart chafing dish.
Meatballs
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp. fresh mint, or 2 tsp. dried
1 1/2 tsp. fresh dill or 1/2 tsp. dried
1 tsp. white distilled vinegar
4 slices soft bread, or 1 cup dry bread crumbs
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Use a spoon to remove walnut-sized portions of meat mixture and roll into balls, placing meatballs on a baking sheet as you go. Bake for 20-25 minutes till browned.
Sauce
2 8-oz. cans tomato sauce
1 onion, chopped
3/4 cup butter
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 bay leaves
Melt butter in a 3-quart or larger pan. Cook onion in butter for a few minutes, till softened. Add spices and bay leaves - stir to incorporate. Add tomato sauce and whisk to combine. Simmer for 10 minutes.
Add meatballs to sauce and simmer 10 minutes. Serve over rice or noodles with Greek salad (whoops, I forgot the olives!).
These are great served over egg noodles (my choice) or rice with a Greek salad, and they make a nice potluck item. Making 1.5 times as much will fill a 2-quart chafing dish.
Meatballs
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp. fresh mint, or 2 tsp. dried
1 1/2 tsp. fresh dill or 1/2 tsp. dried
1 tsp. white distilled vinegar
4 slices soft bread, or 1 cup dry bread crumbs
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Use a spoon to remove walnut-sized portions of meat mixture and roll into balls, placing meatballs on a baking sheet as you go. Bake for 20-25 minutes till browned.
Sauce
2 8-oz. cans tomato sauce
1 onion, chopped
3/4 cup butter
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 bay leaves
Melt butter in a 3-quart or larger pan. Cook onion in butter for a few minutes, till softened. Add spices and bay leaves - stir to incorporate. Add tomato sauce and whisk to combine. Simmer for 10 minutes.
Add meatballs to sauce and simmer 10 minutes. Serve over rice or noodles with Greek salad (whoops, I forgot the olives!).