Keftedes ( Greek Meatballs)

Submitted by Leslie in Texas

"Another Greek appetizer recipe that I clipped from a magazine many years ago. These freeze well."

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 13
• Yields: 75 meatballs

ingredients

• 3 lbs ground beef
• 3 eggs
• 3 slices toast, crumbled
• 2 medium onions, very finely minced or 2 medium onions, grated
• 1 fresh tomato
• 1 tablespoon dried mint, crushed
• 3 tablespoons romano cheese, grated
• 4 tablespoons water
• 1 lemon, juice of
• 1 dash cinnamon
• salt and pepper, to taste
• flour
• canola oil, for frying

directions

1. Skin the tomato and crush in blender.
2. Add to meat, mixing well.
3. Add remainder of ingredients except the flour and oil; mix lightly but thoroughly.
4. Form into small ( about the diameter of a quarter) balls and roll lightly in flour.
5. Fry in hot oil until evenly browned; drain on paper toweling.
6. Serve hot as an appetizer.
7. May be made ahead; refrigerate until ready to serve, then reheat in a 350 degree oven for 15- 20 minutes, or until heated through.
8. May be frozen; defrost and reheat in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.

Reviews

[FrenchBunny]

These were simply wonderful little balls of joy. I had made 76 of them, and that has got to be the closest I have been to an amount when someone says how many they have made to what I got. The toast really didn't crumble really well so I threw them in the blender to be crumbled, was a lot easier. I also used about 1 lb. of pork with the 2 lbs of beef. When I was mixing them I thought wow, these feel a bit too wet and was a bit scared but when it was time to roll them and fry them they were excellent. I had used my electric skillet because it was larger than just a frying pan. I did two batches. I had made these the night before because I wanted them for lunch and these were a bit time consuming so it worked out great to do them ahead. I kept some for my lunch and froze the rest. These meatballs were so tender and moist and delicious. Had made them to go with some tzatziti sauce Recipe #59336 and some great Dolmas Recipe #437604 and Antipasto Recipe #107224 It all made for a fantastic lunch. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe Leslie.