Greek Meatball Salad Recipes

GREEK MEATBALLS RECIPE (KEFTEDES/ KEFTETHES)

Steps:

• To prepare this traditional Greek meatballs recipe (keftedes), add all the ingredients into a large bowl and mix well (for about 5-10 minutes), squeezing with your hands, to allow the flavours to blend. Cover the bowl with some plastic wrap and let it rest in the fridge for 1 hour.
• Turn the mixture for the keftedes out of the fridge and roll into meatballs the size of a walnut (or bigger if you prefer). If you're frying them, dredge the rolled meatballs lightly in flour making sure to shake off any excess. Fry until nicely browned on all sides.
• The traditional way of cooking Greek meatballs (keftedes) is frying them. Fry the keftedes in batches of 10-15 at a time, until nicely browned on all sides.
• Instead of frying you can bake / grill the keftedes in the oven. Preheat the oven at 200C, place the un-floured keftedes on greased baking sheet about an inch apart. Bake for about 20 minutes, turning the meatballs upside down midway through cooking time. The grilled version is much lighter than the fried so theres not excuse to not trying it now!
• Keftedes (Greek meatballs) are ideally served as an appetizer (meze) with some creamy tzatziki sauce and pita breads or as a main course with some basmati rice and a Greek salad. Enjoy!

GREEK MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a pan with foil and place a rack on top of the foil.
• Combine milk and panko bread crumbs. Let sit 5 minutes.
• Add remaining ingredients and mix until combined. Divide mixture into 20 meatballs.
• Roll and place on prepared pan. Bake 20-22 minutes or until browned and meatballs are cooked through.

GREEK MEATBALL SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler on high. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Pulse 1/2 cup of the pita chips in a food processor until finely ground. Transfer to a large bowl and drizzle with 1 tablespoon each red wine vinegar and olive oil.
• Coarsely chop one of the onion halves and add it to the food processor. Add 1/4 cup of the mint and the garlic and pulse until very finely chopped. Add this mixture to the bowl with the ground pita chips and mix well with your hands. Add the beef, cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and mix gently with your hands until well combined.
• Dampen your hands and form the mixture into 24 small meatballs, using about 1 tablespoon for each. Place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing the meatballs about 1 inch apart. Spread the tomatoes cut-side up in a single layer on the other side of the pan.
• Broil until the meatballs are almost cooked through and browned and the tomatoes are blistered, 4 to 5 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Combine the yogurt, the remaining 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to make the dressing. Very thinly slice the remaining onion half and add it to a clean large bowl along with the lettuce, bell peppers and remaining 1/4 cup mint leaves. Toss with the dressing and 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Top with the meatballs, tomatoes and remaining 1 cup pita chips and serve.