Different Meatball Recipes to Enjoy in Greek Cooking

Written by Greek Boston in Greek Cooking Comments Off on Different Meatball Recipes to Enjoy in Greek Cooking

When it comes to Greek food, there are a few dishes that stand out as being pretty common. Meatballs are one of those. Each dish is made with the freshest ingredients and this makes it even more delicious. For example, with traditional meatballs, also known as keftedes, the meatballs are often seasoned with mint. Using the freshest mint you can find will deliver the maximum amount of flavor. If you want to make the best meatballs possible, this is a good strategy to use.

Here is a look at some of the top meatball recipes you an find in Greek cuisine:

Traditional Meatballs

These traditional meatballs, also referred to as keftedes, are a staple of Greek cuisine. Typically, beef is the meat of choice here but it isn’t uncommon to make it with other meats, such as pork. These meatballs are traditionally either fried in olive oil or baked in the oven. Fresh herbs are also used, and the herb of choice depends on the region of Greece, the family, or the herbs that are available. Parsley and spearmint are both fairly common, as well as oregano, which is a Greek classic.

Meatballs in Wine Sauce

These traditional meatballs are made in a very typical way similar to keftedes. The major difference is how they are cooked. These meatballs are slowly braised in a savory wine sauce that includes plenty of flavors, such as garlic and oregano. For best results, use a traditional Greek red wine. Our recipe calls for dry red wine, but you can also use a sweeter wine such as Mavrodaphne.

Cheese Stuffed Meatballs

These meatballs are made in a similar way as traditional keftedes. However, a major difference is that each meatball is stuffed with a piece of meltable cheese like kasseri, which is a traditional cheese of Greece. If you don’t have access to kasseri cheese, consider using mozzarella.

Meatball Souvlaki

Most traditional meatball dishes are either fried, baked, or braised. These meatballs are slightly different because they pierced through with a skewer and then grilled. Known as souvlaki, this grilling method is a classic. Meatball souvlaki includes all the great flavors of a Greek meatball with the added charred taste from the grill.

Lamb Meatballs

Instead of making your Greek meatballs with beef or pork, consider making them with lamb instead! Lamb is one of the most traditional meats that are found in Greece. If you have access to a good source of lamb, you’ll definitely want to want to whip up a batch of these.

Meatballs with Bulgur

Most meatballs are made with traditional meats, but sometimes other ingredients are included. This traditional recipe mixes beef with cooked bulgur, which is a type of grain that is often found in Greek cooking. You don’t need to use beef for this recipe – you could also make them with other meats, such as lamb or pork.

There are plenty of delicious meatball recipes that can be found in Greek cuisine. Give these a try the next time you have a hankering for meatballs!

Categorized in: Greek Cooking

This post was written by Greek Boston