Greek Pork and Beef Meatballs
These meatballs, Keftedes, are baked instead of fried and you can have them for dinner, as finger food or as leftovers plus they freeze well. Serve with tzatziki.
Ingredients
Serves: 8
- 1/2 (500g) loaf of bread, sliced
- 500g pork mince
- 500g beef mince
- 1 egg
- I large onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/2 tablespoon sea salt, or to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 3/4 cup (90g) plain flour, for dredging
Directions
Preparation:45min ›
Cook:30min ›
Extra time:1hour chilling ›
Ready in:2hours15min
- Place the bread in a large bowl and cover with water. Set aside for about 10 minutes while you chop the onion and herbs.
- Drain the water from the bowl with the bread. Take handfuls of the bread and squeeze out as much water as possible over the sink. Place wet bread back in the bowl and add the pork, beef, egg, onion, garlic, mint, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper. With your hands, mix all of the ingredients together thoroughly until well combined. Place in the fridge, covered, for 30 minutes to an hour (this isn't absolutely necessary, but it allows the flavours to develop and also makes the meatballs easier to form. You could also let it sit in the fridge overnight).
- Preheat the oven to 200 C. Prepare baking trays by covering with baking paper.
- Place the flour in a shallow plate. Take the meatball mixture from the fridge and form the meatballs: Roll the mixture into 2 to 3cm balls, flatten into a disk shape, then coat lightly in flour, shaking off any excess. Place the meatballs on the baking tray.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 30 to 40 minutes, turning over once halfway through. The meatballs should be done on the inside and crispy on the outside.
- Serve immediately or at room temperature.
To freeze
These meatballs are perfect for freezing, either before or after baking. To freeze before baking, form into disks and freeze without coating in flour.
Excellent Leftovers
One of my favourite Greek dishes actually calls for leftover meatballs. Simply saute some chopped onion in olive oil till translucent. Add meatballs, tomato puree or passata, a pinch of ground cinnamon, oregano, salt and pepper, and simmer on medium high till most of the water is evaporated and the olive oil comes to the surface. Serve with rice or potatoes.
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Reviews and Ratings
Global Ratings:
(5)
Reviews in English (4)
Something else. ! halved the amount of bread and used wholemeal. I added crushed chilli flakes and used 500g beef without adding pork. It went down really well. - 05 Oct 2010 (Review from Allrecipes UK & Ireland)
Made it healthier. With the left-over meatballs make them into a delisous redsauce serve with pasta, for the sauce - in a deep frying pan or wok scortch fine chopped onions (RED), when slightly browned take off the heat. add in 3 large grated tomatoes, 2 bayleaves 1/4 teaspoon brown sugar, salt + pepper, 4 table spoons virgin olive oil, put back on heat until all comes to boiling point ,place in the meat balls, leave to simmer for about 10 min, use any pasta, or rice. Serve on top of pasta along with grated parmasan cheese or a cheese off your choice, my family love this receipe and its orignal receipe title is Sousoukaki. - 10 Jan 2010 (Review from Allrecipes UK & Ireland)