- 1
Ingredients
- 1 1 1 large onion, very finely minced
- 1 1 1 lb. ground lamb or beef or a mixture of both
- 1 1 2 large or 2 medium-sized tomatoes, skinned and finely chopped
- 1/2 1/2 1/2 c. fairly fine, but fresh bread crumbs
- 1 to 2 1 to 2 to Tbsp. ground cumin, to taste
- 1/4 1/4 1/4 c. packed flat leaf parsley, chopped
- small handful small handful fresh mint leaves, finely chopped at last minute
- to salt to taste
- to ground pepper to taste
- flour for rolling the meatballs
- olive oil for frying (preferably Greek)
Preparation
Step 1
Place minced onion in small saucepan, together with
about 1/4 cup water. Simmer gently until the onion is tender,
about 10 minutes. All of the water will have evaporated by
now. Remove the pan and set on one side for a few minutes.
Watch onion. In a small, dry saute pan or saucepan, gently
heat the ground cumin for a few minutes, or until it begins to
give out an aroma. This is proof that the heat is releasing
the essential oils of the cumin. Set on one side for a few
minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, place the meat, onion, chopped
tomato, parsley, cumin, mint and bread crumbs. Add some salt
and plenty of pepper, as well as about half of the cumin.
Taste the mixture and be prepared to add the rest of the cumin
(or even more). Add egg and more salt. Refrigerate meat for
1/2 hour.
Have a large plate ready, covered with flour. Lightly
flour your hands with some of it. Form the mixture into small
balls, the size depending entirely on your preference. In
Greece, they are usually the size of a silver dollar and
slightly flattened, if served as a main course and about the
size of a half dollar (and again, slightly flattened), if being
used as a first course. Heat some olive oil in a large saute
pan. Prepare your grill or oil a baking sheet for the oven.
Cook the Kephtethes in your preferred way (the oven should be
about 375 degrees for small or 400 degrees for large), turning them very
carefully after they have been browned on one side. Baking
sheet should be heated.
Serve hot, cold or somewhere in between as they do in
Greece, decorated with a little chopped parsley or mint. Don't
overcook.
Note: I usually do1/2 lamb, 1/2 beef and I skip the flour and frying. I then put them dice tomatoes with paste, wine, garlic, oregano and little cayenne. I often also add green beans to this and serve the whole thing over whole wheat bow tie pasta.