Greek Meatballs (Keftedes)

This Greek Meatballs Recipe is supposedly authentic Greek. I've never had meatballs in Greece so I can't verify that but I do know these are some of the best meatballs ever.

I like to have them with pita bread and the cucumber yogurt sauce that I've included the recipe for.

These meatballs are really great served at room temperature and are even better as leftovers the next day.

Greek Meatball Recipe

4 slices white bread, torn into pieces
2 tablespoons milk
1 clove garlic
1 onion, quartered
4 teaspoons dried mint
1 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground lamb
2 eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour for dredging
vegetable oil for frying

Directions

Moisten the bread pieces with the milk in a large bowl, and set aside.

Mince the garlic in a food processor, then add the onion, mint, salt, and pepper. Process until the onion is finely chopped. Add the onion mixture to the bowl with the moist bread, along with the beef, lamb, and eggs. Mix with your hands until thoroughly blended.

Roll the mixture into balls measuring 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. Place the flour in a shallow pan, and roll the balls in the flour to coat. Shake off any excess flour, and place the meatballs onto a plate or baking sheet, pressing to flatten slightly. This will keep them from rolling away.

Heat 1 inch of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs, 8 or 10 at a time, and cook until nicely browned on the outside, and no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes; drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining meatballs.

If you really, really don't care for lamb use all beef instead, but the meatballs won't be as authentic.

Serve with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce.

Cucumber Yogurt Sauce For Greek Meatballs

1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1/2 cup cucumber, peeled, grated and squeezed as dry as possible
2 teaspoons red or rice wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon Salt and pepper, to taste

In a small bowl, mix sour cream, yogurt, cucumber, vinegar, 1 minced garlic clove, and salt and pepper to taste. Great sauce for Greek Meatballs!

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