Keftedes (Κεφτέδες)

Prep time: 25 minutes (plus 30 minutes chilling)

Cook time: 15 minutes

Total time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Servings: 6 servings (about 24 meatballs)

Country of Origin

Greece

Description

Crispy, herb-packed Greek meatballs made from ground beef and pork, fragrant with fresh mint, oregano, garlic, and a splash of Ouzo, shallow-fried until golden on the outside and juicy within.

Presentation & How It's Eaten

Piled high on a serving platter with lemon wedges and tzatziki sauce. Eaten as a meze snack with toothpicks or served as a main dish with Greek lemon potatoes.

Ingredients

• 300g (10 oz) ground beef

• 300g (10 oz) ground pork

• 2 slices stale white bread (crusts removed, soaked in water and squeezed dry)

• 1 yellow onion, grated

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/4 cup fresh mint, finely chopped

• 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

• 1 tbsp dried Greek oregano

• 1 tbsp Ouzo or red wine vinegar

• 1 egg

• Salt and black pepper to taste

• All-purpose flour for dreading

• Olive oil for shallow-frying

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Mix Meat Dough: Combine ground meats, squeezed soaked bread, grated onion, garlic, herbs, Ouzo, egg, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Knead vigorously for 5 minutes.

2. Chill: Cover bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes to let flavors meld.

3. Shape & Flour: Roll meat mixture into golf-ball-sized meatballs (~30g each). Lightly dredge each meatball in flour, shaking off excess.

4. Shallow Fry: Heat 1/2 inch of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry meatballs in batches for 8–10 minutes, turning frequently, until crispy and deep golden-brown all over.

5. Drain & Serve: Transfer to paper towels to drain excess oil. Serve hot squeezed with lemon juice.

Cooking Tips

• Soaked Stale Bread: Using water-soaked stale bread crumb instead of dry breadcrumbs retains moisture inside meatballs during high-heat frying.

Nutrition Facts

(Estimated per serving, 4 meatballs)

• Calories: ~360 kcal

• Total Fat: 22g

• Saturated Fat: 7g

• Cholesterol: 95mg

• Sodium: ~480mg

• Total Carbohydrates: 12g

• Dietary Fiber: 1.2g

• Sugars: 1.5g

• Protein: 26g