Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki

By MaryEllen

“I prefer these with equal amounts of beef and lamb, but you can use either meat by itself. Great as pre-dinner nibbles, the keftedes are also good for dinner with buttered rice and a salad of cucumbers and tomatoes, or tuck them into a pita with shredded lettuce for a Greek-style sandwich.”—Rick Rodgers

Ingredients

• Tzatziki:
• 2 2 2 standard cucumbers
• 1 1 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 1 1 cup Greek-style yogurt (see Note)
• 1 1 1 Tbs fresh lemon juice
• 1 1 1 Tbs finely chopped fresh mint
• 2 2 2 garlic cloves, crushed through a press
• 1/4 1/4 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• Greek Meatballs:
• 1 1 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
• 1/2 1/2 1/2 cup milk
• 1 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 lbs ground round (85 percent lean), or use half ground round and half ground lamb
• 1 1 1 medium yellow onion, shredded on the large holes of a box grater
• 4 4 4 garlic cloves, crushed through a press
• 2 2 2 large eggs, beaten
• 2 2 2 Tbs chopped fresh mint
• 2 2 2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 1/2 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 1/4 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3 3 3 Tbs olive oil
• Wooden toothpicks, for serving
• 6 6
• Nutrition Facts
• 1/6 Serving size: 1/6 of a recipe (12 ounces).
• 2000 daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
• Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients.
• Amount Per Serving
• 501.98 501.98
• 294.25 From Fat (59%) 294.25
• % Daily Value
• 32.37g 50% 32.37g 50%
• 10.57g 53% 10.57g 53%
• 152.17mg 51% 51%
• 1054.53mg 44% 44%
• 694.85mg 20% 20%
• 24.54g 8% 24.54g 8%
• 2.07g 8% 8%
• 7.84g 7.84g
• 27.67g 55% 55%
• Tips

Preparation

Step 1

1. To make the tzatziki, peel the cucumbers. Cut each in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Shred on the large holes of a box grater. Transfer to a wire sieve and toss with the salt. Let drain in the sink for 30 minutes to 1 hour. A handful at a time, squeeze the shredded cucumbers to extract more liquid, then transfer to a medium bowl. Add the yogurt, lemon juice, mint, garlic, and pepper and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 days.

2. To make the meatballs, combine the bread crumbs and milk in a large bowl. Let stand until the bread crumbs are thoroughly moistened, about 3 minutes. Add the ground meat, onion, garlic, eggs, mint, oregano, salt, pepper, and cinnamon. Use your hands to mix the meat mixture well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 4 hours.

3. Preheat the oven to 200F. Using your wet hands rinsed under cold water, shape the meat mixture into 18 equal meatballs. Transfer the meatballs to a plate. Heat the oil in a large skillet (preferably nonstick) over medium heat. In batches, add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until lightly browned and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while cooking the remaining meatballs.

4. Spoon the tzatziki into individual ramekins or small serving bowls. Drain the meatballs briefly on paper towels. Serve the meatballs hot, with toothpicks for spearing and the tzatziki as a dip.