Greek Meatballs Keftethes With Tsatziki Sauce Food

GREEK MEATBALLS RECIPE (KEFTEDES/ KEFTETHES)

Steps:

• To prepare this traditional Greek meatballs recipe (keftedes), add all the ingredients into a large bowl and mix well (for about 5-10 minutes), squeezing with your hands, to allow the flavours to blend. Cover the bowl with some plastic wrap and let it rest in the fridge for 1 hour.
• Turn the mixture for the keftedes out of the fridge and roll into meatballs the size of a walnut (or bigger if you prefer). If you're frying them, dredge the rolled meatballs lightly in flour making sure to shake off any excess. Fry until nicely browned on all sides.
• The traditional way of cooking Greek meatballs (keftedes) is frying them. Fry the keftedes in batches of 10-15 at a time, until nicely browned on all sides.
• Instead of frying you can bake / grill the keftedes in the oven. Preheat the oven at 200C, place the un-floured keftedes on greased baking sheet about an inch apart. Bake for about 20 minutes, turning the meatballs upside down midway through cooking time. The grilled version is much lighter than the fried so theres not excuse to not trying it now!
• Keftedes (Greek meatballs) are ideally served as an appetizer (meze) with some creamy tzatziki sauce and pita breads or as a main course with some basmati rice and a Greek salad. Enjoy!

GREEK MEATBALLS KEFTETHES WITH TSATZIKI SAUCE

Steps:

• FOR THE MEATBALLS:
• Fry onions with vegetable oil over low heat until golden. Remove to a large mixing bowl.
• Add meat and all other ingredients except flour and olive/corn oil mix. Knead for about 10 minutes or until mixture is a smooth paste.
• Heat the oil mix in a large frying pan to the point of fragrance.
• Meanwhile, start to shape mixture into balls about the size of a large marble by rolling lightly between palms of hands, I suggest that you do them in batches of say 12 - 16, each batch being enough to space evenly but separately in the frying pan.
• As each meatball is formed place them on a large plate which has been liberally covered with plain flour. When the batch is finished lightly roll the meatball in the flour. At this point the oil in the frying pan should be just ready.
• Put the batch of meatball into the pan (Use kitchen tongs as the oil is very hot).
• Start on your second batch of meatballs, make them and place them on the floured plate. At this point it is time to turn the meatballs over and when you have completed this roll the second batch in the flour.
• Now it is time to remove the first batch from the frying pan using a slotted spoon or kitchen tongs and place on paper towels to drain.
• Put the second batch of meatballs into the pan to cook and carry on with the process until you have finished the mixture.
• Making the tsatziki: Peel the cucumber, cut it in half and use a teaspoon to scrape out the seeds.
• Chop the cucumber finely.
• Peel and press the garlic.
• Mix the cucumber, garlic, mint, and yogurt, with salt and pepper. Make the tsatziki at least 2 hours ahead to give the flavors a change to develop.