Comments on: Greek Meatballs (Keftedes) http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/ Delicious Greek Food - Recipes and Techniques Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:35:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Milt http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-12610 Milt Sun, 05 Sep 2010 20:14:04 +0000 http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-12610 To slimjim1814 Greeks don't really use cumin or allspice for their cooking. I am half-Greek, so I know. The meatballs definitely need a little pork, thus my ammended recipe. Try it, you'll love it! -- Milt To slimjim1814

Greeks don’t really use cumin or allspice for their cooking. I am half-Greek, so I know. The meatballs definitely need a little pork, thus my ammended recipe. Try it, you’ll love it!

– Milt

]]> By: Milt http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-12609 Milt Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:53:50 +0000 http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-12609 This is as close to the way my dad (who came from Greece in 1947) makes them however, I'd like to give you an alternative to this recipe. 2/3 lb ground beef plus 1/3 lb ground pork (this adds a lot of flavor) 1 medium onion chopped finely. You do not want to over power the flavor of the meat with too much onion! 1 bunch parsley, chopped finely (not really necessary, but can't hurt) DO NOT add Oregano! That does not do the recipe any good. Use dried mint. For many years my Dad used fresh mint He has since discovered that mint from the jar (about 1 TSP) gives just the right flavor. Keep it lighter on the garlic 2 to 3 cloves are plenty. The bread is definitely necessary, but maybe just a bit less. Maybe only 4 slices. The trick is to let the bread sit out over night or so. It's a little stale, so it's kind of like bread crumbs, but not quite. Cut the crust off and then soak in water and wring it out real well. The Ouzo, wine and beer are totally unecessary. Add it if you want to, but I consider it silly. The 2 eggs are a must. In case you haven't gotten it yet, what we're making is tiny round fried meatloafs! Here's another secret my Dad taught me. Don't roll the meatballs into spheres. Flatten them out a bit, and then when they're frying in the oil, they will round into spheres if you've gotten everthing just right. I'm sure the original recipe would produce a great tasting "Greek meatball", but you may want to try my variation and see what you think. This is as close to the way my dad (who came from Greece in 1947) makes them however, I’d like to give you an alternative to this recipe.

2/3 lb ground beef plus 1/3 lb ground pork (this adds a lot of flavor)
1 medium onion chopped finely. You do not want to over power the flavor of the meat with too much onion!
1 bunch parsley, chopped finely (not really necessary, but can’t hurt)
DO NOT add Oregano! That does not do the recipe any good.
Use dried mint. For many years my Dad used fresh mint He has since discovered that mint from the jar (about 1 TSP) gives just the right flavor.
Keep it lighter on the garlic 2 to 3 cloves are plenty.
The bread is definitely necessary, but maybe just a bit less. Maybe only 4 slices. The trick is to let the bread sit out over night or so. It’s a little stale, so it’s kind of like bread crumbs, but not quite. Cut the crust off and then soak in water and wring it out real well.
The Ouzo, wine and beer are totally unecessary. Add it if you want to, but I consider it silly.
The 2 eggs are a must. In case you haven’t gotten it yet, what we’re making is tiny round fried meatloafs!

Here’s another secret my Dad taught me. Don’t roll the meatballs into spheres. Flatten them out a bit, and then when they’re frying in the oil, they will round into spheres if you’ve gotten everthing just right.

I’m sure the original recipe would produce a great tasting “Greek meatball”, but you may want to try my variation and see what you think.

]]> By: connie http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-12605 connie Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:17:05 +0000 http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-12605 great meatballs everyone loved them .just like the ones we had at the greek festival. great meatballs everyone loved them .just like the ones we had at the greek festival.

]]> By: Jill@Home Paper Shredder http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-12499 Jill@Home Paper Shredder Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:06:37 +0000 http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-12499 Thanks for the recipe for meatballs. I will try it and let your know how it tasted. Thanks for the post. Thanks for the recipe for meatballs. I will try it and let your know how it tasted. Thanks for the post.

]]> By: slimjim1814 http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-12453 slimjim1814 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:02:32 +0000 http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-12453 I'm sure this recipe is great, seems a little more italian than greek for me. Where is the cumin, allspice? And only ground beef? Wheres the pork and lamb? Add those into your recipe, then you will have the greek meatballs I know and love. I’m sure this recipe is great, seems a little more italian than greek for me.
Where is the cumin, allspice? And only ground beef? Wheres the pork and lamb?
Add those into your recipe, then you will have the greek meatballs I know and love.

]]> By: Kathryn http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-12312 Kathryn Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:45:59 +0000 http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-12312 I just returned from my 10th trip to Athens & Is of Poros, am so glad to have found these recipes written down. Zoe in Athens taught me how but it is nice to have found your site. I'll have to cook more of these foods especially when am "homesick" for my love of Greece. Efxaristo!! I just returned from my 10th trip to Athens & Is of Poros, am so glad to have found these recipes written down. Zoe in Athens taught me how but it is nice to have found your site. I’ll have to cook more of these foods especially when am “homesick” for my love of Greece. Efxaristo!!

]]> By: Doug http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-11556 Doug Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:46:21 +0000 http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-11556 Yesterday, I made this recipe. Very nice! Thanks for the recipe. I took a few photos: Final: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyzaboy/3376102570/ Frying: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyzaboy/3376110994/ In the flour: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyzaboy/3375289831/ The process: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyzaboy/3376104860/ Doug's last blog post..<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyzaboy/3375295969/" rel="nofollow">These are MY balls, got it?</a> Yesterday, I made this recipe. Very nice! Thanks for the recipe.

I took a few photos:

Final: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyzaboy/3376102570/
Frying: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyzaboy/3376110994/
In the flour: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyzaboy/3375289831/
The process: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyzaboy/3376104860/

Doug’s last blog post..These are MY balls, got it?

]]> By: Lulu http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-9612 Lulu Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:38:16 +0000 http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-9612 Manju, LOL! That's so great and I'm definitely telling Mama! Yes, it's pronounced kef-TEH-thes. The d in keftedes is the th sound like in "this." Manju, LOL! That’s so great and I’m definitely telling Mama! Yes, it’s pronounced
kef-TEH-thes. The d in keftedes is the th sound like in “this.”

]]> By: manju http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-9608 manju Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:54:58 +0000 http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-9608 Yes, you did! I made this recipe on Sunday for my husband who LOVES meatballs (also fishballs) of any kind (me, not so much). But we both loved these! They were, as you said, light as pillows and that first puff of mint and herb when you break through the crunch is revelatory. Who knew a meatball could be like this?! I have to admit that when I saw the ratio of meat to "other stuff" I was tempted to fiddle with the recipe, but I kept "hearing" that dialogue box with Mama and Zoe shouting, "No, it doesn't need it" so I persevered and was well rewarded! This is so unlike the Italian style meatball that we will call them keftedes (is it kef-TEH-dez?) to distinguish them from the other. I have half the quantity of meat mixture left, which my husband made me freeze and promise to make him when he returns from his trip on the weekend. : ) So yes, 2 new converts! Thanks for the recipe. Yes, you did! I made this recipe on Sunday for my husband who LOVES meatballs (also fishballs) of any kind (me, not so much). But we both loved these! They were, as you said, light as pillows and that first puff of mint and herb when you break through the crunch is revelatory. Who knew a meatball could be like this?! I have to admit that when I saw the ratio of meat to “other stuff” I was tempted to fiddle with the recipe, but I kept “hearing” that dialogue box with Mama and Zoe shouting, “No, it doesn’t need it” so I persevered and was well rewarded! This is so unlike the Italian style meatball that we will call them keftedes (is it kef-TEH-dez?) to distinguish them from the other. I have half the quantity of meat mixture left, which my husband made me freeze and promise to make him when he returns from his trip on the weekend. : ) So yes, 2 new converts! Thanks for the recipe.

]]> By: Lulu http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-9404 Lulu Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:56:27 +0000 http://mamastaverna.com/greek-meatballs-keftedes/#comment-9404 Hey manju! It's super to see you here! I'm thrilled to think I might have infected someone! Hey manju! It’s super to see you here! I’m thrilled to think I might have infected someone!

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