Keftedakia Greek Meatballs 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 KEFTEDAKIA (MEATBALLS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF. Mix ground beef, seasoning, bread crumbs, wine and egg together in a large bowl until well blended.
• Shape into 12 large balls; place on baking sheet.
• Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until no longer pink in center. Serve with pilaf.

MINT AND OUZO FLAVORED MEATBALLS: KEFTEDAKIA

Steps:

• In a bowl, soak the bread pieces in the ouzo until the ouzo is absorbed, about 5 minutes.
• In a skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• In a large bowl, combine the meat and onions. Squeeze the bread dry and add to the mixture. Add the remaining ingredients except the flour and Essence, and mix well with your hands. With wet hands, shape the mixture into small balls about the size of a walnut.
• In a shallow dish, combine the flour and Essence. Roll the meatballs in the flour to lightly coat on all sides. Place on a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• In a large skillet, heat the remaining 1/4 cup of oil over high heat. Add the meatballs in batches, being careful not to overcrowd and cook until evenly browned and cooked through, shaking the pan from time to time, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain on paper towels, and place in a baking dish in the oven to keep warm. Cook the remaining meatballs, adding more oil as needed to the pan.
• Make the sauce in a separate pan.
• In a separate pan, add the olive oil and heat. When the oil is hot, add the onion and saute for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and carefully add the ouzo. Return the mixture to the heat and flambe. Cook until the flames die down. When the flames go out, add the herbs and cook for 1 minute. Add the lemon juice and pour over the meatballs.
• Arrange on a platter, sprinkle with the chopped herbs and grated Kefalotyri, and serve hot with glasses of ouzo.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

KEFTEDAKIA - GREEK MEATBALLS

Steps:

• 1. Add the first seven ingredients together and mix well.
• 2. Roll the mixture into small balls approximately the size of large walnuts.
• 3. Roll the balls in flour and then deep fry them for 15 minutes.
• 4. Serve and enjoy!

KEFTEDAKIA (GREEK MINT AND OUZO FLAVORED MEATBALLS)

Steps:

• Soak the bread in the ouzo for at least 5 minutes.
• Heat half the olive oil in a skillet over moderate heat, add the onions, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are soft but not brown.
• Remove the onions with a slotted spoon, placing them in a large mixing bowl.
• Squeeze the bread dry (discard the ouzo) and add the bread to the onions.
• Add the ground beef, egg, mint, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, and knead vigorously with your hands, then beat with a wooden spoon until the mixture is smooth and fluffy.
• Shape the beef mixture into balls about the size of walnuts (you may find that wetting your hands with water helps prevent sticking) and then roll the meatballs in the flour to coat evenly.
• Place the meatballs on a cookie sheet and refrigerate for at least one hour.
• Add the remaining olive oil to a large skillet and brown the meatballs, 7 or 8 at a time, over high heat, cooking 8 to 10 minutes and shaking the pan from time to time.
• As each batch is done, remove them with a slotted spoon and place on an ovenproof serving platter.
• Keep them warm in a 200°F (100°C) oven while you finish cooking the rest.

GREEK MEATBALLS IN AVGOLEMONO SAUCE (KEFTEDES ME AVGOLEMONO)

Steps:

• Meatballs:.
• Apart from the flour and the vegetable oil, mix all the other ingredients together well.
• Make medium-size balls from the mixture.
• Roll the balls in flour and then deep fry them for approximately 15 minutes.
• Sauce:.
• In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat the oil, then add the flour and stir well for 3 minutes.
• Add 1 litre water and mix well.
• Add the meatballs and simmer for 30 minutes, until the sauce is slightly thick.
• Beat the egg yolk thoroughly.
• Add the lemon juice to the egg and keep beating.
• Add 5-6 tablespoons of the sauce to the egg & lemon mixture and stir well.
• Add this mixture to the meatballs in the sauce, shake the pan and remove from the heat.
• Serve with a sprinkling of pepper and fresh mint on top.

KEFTEDES - GREEK MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Soak the bread well in water.
• Quarter the onion and chop finely by hand or in the blender.
• Add the parsley, mint, tomato and vinegar.
• Blend slowly, taking care not to puree the mixture. Set aside.
• Squeeze the water out of the bread and put the latter in a bowl.
• Add the minced meat, egg, onion, garlic, tomato, herbs and vinegar and knead well. For a fluffier, mix, spray lightly with water as you knead.
• Cover with a towel and leave for at least one hour in the refrigerator to set.
• Then form into balls a bit larger than a walnut, slightly flattened so they fry faster.
• Toss them in flour.
• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan until hot.
• Add the keftedes, lower the heat to medium and fry.
• Remove with a slotted spoon and lay on kitchen paper to drain off excess oil.