Easy Greek Meatballs - Keftedes
Greek Meatballs, made with beautifully spiced mincemeat, is a delicious meal that is well-complemented with a variety of dips and salads and a great addition to saucy pasta dishes. These meaty treats freeze well and cook quickly from frozen, which makes them perfect for an easy midweek dinner. They are also a tasty snack, easy to pack and take to school or work.
Equipment
- An air fryer or an oven.
Ingredients
- 500 g ground beef
- 200 g ground pork
- 1 medium onion grated
- 2 garlic cloves minced finely
- 1 cup breadcrumbs or 1 large slice of stale bread
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons red wine
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped finely
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh spearmint chopped finely
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup plain flour for dusting
Instructions
- Peel and grate the onion. Peel and mince the garlic finely. Wash well the fresh herbs and chop them finely. If using stale bread, place the slice of bread in a bowl with cold water for a few seconds until soft, then squeeze it to remove the moisture. Breadcrumbs are used dry.
- Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well with your hands. Cover the bowl of meat mixture with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
- Use an ice cream scoop to measure the quantity of meat mixture per meatball. Roll perfect round balls with the meat mixture. Toss the meatballs lightly in flour before cooking.
- Cook the meatballs:In oil: Heat plenty of cooking oil in a large heavy-based pan. Place a batch of meatballs and cook at medium heat on each side to cook the meatballs evenly on all sides and golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to remove the meatballs from the hot oil. Place on kitchen paper to drain the oil.In air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 180 degrees Celsius (356 degrees Fahrenheit). Brush the meatballs with oil lightly and spray a little oil inside the air fryer pan. Place as many meatballs as you can fit loosely, leaving space between the meatballs for the hot air to circulate and cook for 7-8 minutes. Shake the air fryer pan a couple of times at even intervals of time to turn the meatballs.In the oven: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit). Place the meatballs on a lightly oiled baking sheet and brush them with oil. Bake in the middle of a hot oven for 20 minutes. Turn the meatballs with tongs midway through the baking.
- Serve Greek meatballs with Greek salad and different dips.
Notes
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 6 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 346 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 12.6g | 16% |
| Saturated Fat 3.5g | 17% |
| Cholesterol 119mg | 40% |
| Sodium 570mg | 25% |
| Total Carbohydrate 21g | 8% |
| Dietary Fiber 2.4g | 8% |
| Total Sugars 1.3g | |
| Protein 36.1g | |
| Vitamin D 3mcg | 13% |
| Calcium 29mg | 2% |
| Iron 18mg | 98% |
| Potassium 411mg | 9% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet.2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |