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Soutzoukakia (Greek Meatballs)

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Experience the rich and comforting flavors of Greece with our Soutzoukakia, a delightful meatball dish that features tender ground beef shaped into football-like morsels. These savory meatballs are simmered in a luscious, cinnamon-infused tomato sauce enhanced with red apple vinegar and aromatic spices like cumin. Perfectly versatile, you can serve them over rice, in warm pita bread, or as part of a meze platter for entertaining. With straightforward preparation steps and common ingredients, this recipe is ideal for both busy weeknights and special occasions. Bring authentic Greek cuisine to your kitchen and treat your family to a meal they won’t forget.

Ingredients

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  • 2 Tbsp oil
  • 1 medium onion
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1.5 pounds ground beef
  • 2 slices bread
  • ½ cup milk
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1.5 tsp cinnamon
  • 1.5 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 Tbsp red apple vinegar
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 15oz cans tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup red apple vinegar
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • Sugar, to taste
  • Salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Soak the bread in milk in a bowl for a few minutes. Squeeze out the milk from the soaked bread using your hands. Combine this bread with ground beef and other meatball ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix everything well but avoid over-mixing. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to 2 hours.
  2. Form oblong or football-shaped meatballs from the mixture after refrigeration.
  3. Heat ¼ cup of oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add meatballs and cook until browned on all sides. Avoid overcrowding; work in batches if needed. Once browned, remove them to a plate.
  4. Add onion to the same pan used for browning meatballs. Sauté until translucent. Add garlic and sauté for an additional minute.
  5. Add tomato sauce along with bay leaf, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and pepper into the pan. Cook for a couple of minutes before adding apple vinegar. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. Adjust seasonings by adding sugar to taste.
  6. Return browned meatballs back into the pan with sauce. Let them simmer uncovered for another 15 minutes.
  7. You can serve immediately or preheat your oven to 400°F if you want to bake them instead. Place raw meatballs in a greased baking dish, pour sauce over them, and bake uncovered for about 45-50 minutes.
  8. For those who prefer using a crockpot, place raw meatballs in a greased crockpot. Pour prepared tomato sauce over them and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 7-8 hours.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://myrecipestories.com/soutzoukakia-greek-meatballs/