Pork Meatballs With Bulgur Salad Feta Mint Food

EASY GREEK MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients and mix until the ingredients are just combined, taking care not to over mix (this can cause the meatballs to be very dense).
• To mix the meatballs: With wet hands (this prevents the meat from sticking to your hands), form meatballs of approximately 3cm/1in and place on a chopping board.
• To fry the meatballs: pre-heat a non-stick frying pan and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Fry the meatballs in batches until golden brown on both sides and cooked through.
• To bake the meatballs: Pre-heat the oven to 220ºC. Line 2 baking sheets with baking/parchment paper and add the meatballs, keeping some space between them. Drizzle the meatballs with 1-2 tbsp olive oil and place in the oven. Allow to bake, turning over halfway, until golden brown and cooked through (approximately 20-30 minutes).
• Remove the meatballs from the heat, drizzle with lemon juice (optional) and serve.

PORK MEATBALLS AND CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 425°F. Place raisins in a small bowl and pour in hot water to cover; let sit until ready to use.
• Place cucumbers in a colander or sieve set in or over a large bowl; sprinkle with 1 tsp. salt and toss to combine. Let sit while you make the meatballs. (It will seem like a lot of cucumbers at first, but they will shrink down as they drain.)
• Meanwhile, drizzle 2 Tbsp. oil over a large rimmed baking sheet. Arrange pine nuts in an even layer on another rimmed baking sheet (use a quarter-sheet if you have one!).
• Finely chop ¼ cup olives. Transfer to a large bowl and add egg, garlic, panko, parsley, 1½ tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes; season with black pepper. Drain raisins and add half to bowl; mix well to combine. Add pork and gently mix with your hands to incorporate. Working one at a time, scoop out heaping tablespoonfuls of pork mixture and form into balls (think about the size of a golf ball; you should get about 20). Arrange on oiled baking sheet, spacing 1" apart. Turn to coat.
• Bake meatballs, rotating baking sheet front to back halfway through, until browned on bottom and cooked through, 10-15 minutes. Toast pine nuts on bottom rack until golden brown, about 3 minutes.
• Coarsely chop remaining ½ cup olives. Gather cucumbers into a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out any excess liquid into bowl (don't worry if they get a little smashed); discard liquid. Wipe out bowl and combine cucumbers, olives, pine nuts, onion, herbs, and remaining raisins in bowl; toss to combine. Drizzle in vinegar and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil, season with salt and black pepper, and toss again to coat.
• Swoosh a generous scoop of yogurt over each plate, then top with salad and meatballs. Season with more black pepper and red pepper flakes if desired.

PORK MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Shred zucchini and half the onion; squeeze out liquid and, in a large bowl, mix with bulgur, pork, eggs, 1/4 cup oregano, and half the garlic. Season with salt and pepper and form into 2-inch meatballs (22 to 24 total).
• In a heavy pot, heat vegetable oil over medium-high. In batches, cook meatballs until browned, 5 to 7 minutes, turning occasionally. Drain on paper towels. Discard oil; wipe out pot.
• Add olive oil to pot. Chop remaining onion and add, along with remaining garlic; cook until fragrant, 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, 1/2 cup oregano, and meatballs; cook until meatballs are cooked through and tomatoes have cooked down, 15 to 20 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Transfer 10 to 12 meatballs and 1 cup sauce to an airtight container and refrigerate, up to 3 days.
• Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions. Serve with remaining meatballs, sauce, and Parmesan.

PORK MEATBALLS WITH BULGUR SALAD, FETA & MINT

Steps:

• Mix the grated carrot and onion with the pork, half of the oregano and plenty of black pepper. Shape into 16 large meatballs. Heat the oil in a large deep non-stick frying pan and fry the meatballs for about 5-8 mins, turning occasionally until firm and starting to colour. Remove from the pan and set aside.
• Tip the chopped onion into the pan and fry over a medium heat until starting to soften, about 5 mins. Stir in the garlic, then add the tomatoes along with the tomato purée, a can of water, the bouillon powder and remaining oregano. Cook over a low heat, covered, for 15 mins, then add the meatballs. Cover and simmer for a further 10 mins
• Meanwhile, boil the bulgur for 15-20 mins until tender, then drain. Tip into a bowl and stir in the lemon zest and 2-3 tbsp juice, the red onion, cucumber, tomatoes, olives and chopped mint. Pile half onto two plates and top with half the meatballs and sauce. Scatter over the mint leaves and half the feta. Chill the rest for another night. Will keep chilled for up to three days. Reheat the meatballs over a low heat until piping hot, then serve with the salad. If frozen, leave to defrost fully and reheat gently until piping hot.

GREEK PORK MEATBALLS: PORK KEFTEDES

Steps:

• Combine the ground pork and onion in a mixing bowl. Add the tomato, mint, salt, and pepper, and knead well for 3 minutes to combine. Pour in the milk and continue kneading until the liquid is completely absorbed. If the mixture is so loose that the keftedes do not retain their shape, add a few tablespoonfuls of plain fine bread crumb. Cover the mixing bowl and refrigerate the mixture for at least 1 hour or up to 6 hours, so that the flavors meld.
• To form, season the flour with salt and pepper, and spread out on a large plate. Have a second, clean plate ready. Take a tablespoonful at a time of the meat mixture and form into a small ball, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Roll in the flour and shake in the palm of your hand to remove the excess flour. Place the dredged meatball on the clean plate. Continue with the remaining mixture until all the meatballs are shaped.
• To fry, heat about 1-inch of olive oil or other oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Using a tablespoon or small spatula, gently place as many meatballs as will fit in the pan without crowding. Fry them, turning once or twice so that all sides are browned. Remove, drain slightly on paper towels, and serve, either hot or at room temperature. The meatballs may be made several hours ahead and stored, covered, at room temperature.

MINTY BEETROOT, FETA & BULGUR SALAD

Steps:

• Put the bulgur in a small pan, cover with water, bring to the boil, then cook, covered, for 5 mins or until tender. Drain well, press out any excess water and tip into a bowl.
• Stir in the orange zest and juice, garlic and vinegar, then toss through the mint, spring onions, walnuts and olives (if using). Finally, stir in the beetroot, spoon into containers and top with the feta to mix through just before eating.

BULGUR AND MINT SALAD

Steps:

• Place the bulgur in a saucepan and cover it with 4 cups of cool tap water. Soak for at least 3 to 4 hours (or overnight, if desired).
• Meanwhile, coarsely chop the mint and parsley together. (There should be 1 1/2 cups total.)
• Drain the bulgur in a sieve for 10 to 20 minutes. Place the drained bulgur in a bowl and add the carrot, scallions, garlic, salt, Tabasco, lemon juice and oil. Mix well.
• Serve at room temperature.

SQUASH, FETA & BULGUR SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Place the squash on a baking sheet and toss with the harissa and some seasoning. Roast for 30 mins or until golden and tender.
• Put the bulgur wheat in a saucepan, cover with boiling water, then cook for 15 mins, drain and cool. Put half the lime juice in a small bowl and add the onion. Leave to sit for 5 mins, then add to the bulgur wheat along with the feta, cooled squash, coriander and spinach.
• In a frying pan, toast the pumpkin seeds for 3-4 mins or until they start popping in the pan. Remove, chop 2 tbsp of the seeds and put in a bowl. Pour the rest over the salad. Add the remaining lime juice to the chopped seeds, with the oil, and seasoning. Mix and pour over the salad.