These Greek Meatballs with Lemon Sauce (Keftedes) are delicious and easy to make with a lot of flavor, juicy and mixed with onions and garlic, cooked in a lemony sauce and served with pita bread. They can be served as an appetizer or as a part of a main dish.  

Keftedes Meatballs with Lemon Sauce
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Meatballs with Lemon Sauce Keftedes

These tender meatballs have a lot of flavor, cooked in a lemony sauce and served with pita bread.
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time35 mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Greece
Keyword: Beef, Lamb, Pork
Servings: 8
Calories: 219kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 medium yellow onion, grated
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 slice, day old bread, cubed and soaked in milk
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 egg yolk, divided
  • ½ lb ground lamb or pork
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh mint leaves
  • 1 tbsp organic ground coriander
  • 1 tsp dried oregano, preferably Greek oregano
  • 1 tsp organic ground cumin
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • 3 lemons, zested and juiced
  • flour
  • 1¼ cup chicken broth

Instructions

  • Over medium heat place a large skillet with 2 tbsp olive oil.
  • Saute the garlic and the chopped onions then transfer to a bowl and set aside.
  • Soak the bread in water then squeeze and add to the bowl, then add the ground beef and lamb, spices, 1 egg, fresh mint, and season with salt and pepper.
  • Mix well using your hands and add 1 tbsp lemon zest, and mix again.
  • Wet your hands and form balls from the meat mixture and roll them into the flour.
  • Over medium-high place a large skillet with olive oil and transfer the meat balls to the skillet.
  • Turn the meatballs from both sides to fully cook them.
  • Transfer the cooked meatballs to paper towel to remove any extra fat.
  • After you cook all the meatballs add the chicken broth, 1 egg yolk with lemon juice to the skillet and stir well then add the lemon zest, and add the meatballs in the skillet.
  • Cover the skillet and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Serve with pita bread or salad.

Inspiration and adaptation: tastybg.com, recipesbg.com, pdrecipes.com

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