Greek Meatballs in Tomato sauce (Soutzoukakia)
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A recipe for traditional Greek spicy meatballs in tomato sauce. It's the world famous and popular Soutzoukakia.
Author:
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Greek
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 500 gr (17 oz) mince veal.
  • 500 gr (17 oz) mince pork.
  • 6 garlic cloves.
  • 2 eggs.
  • 5-6 slices of toast bread.
  • 2 shots of Ouzo or Raki.
  • 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) extra virgin olive oil.
  • 1 ½ bunches (~ 75 gr, 2.5 oz) of flat-leaf parsley.
  • A small bunch of fresh mint.
  • 1 ½ tablespoons ground cumin.
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg.
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon.
  • 1 tablespoon of dried oregano.
  • 1 tablespoon of pepper.
  • 1 ½ tablespoons of salt.
  • 3-4 large ripe and sweet tomatoes.
  • 300 ml (10 fl oz) tomato passata.
  • 1 large onion chopped.
  • 50 gr (1.7 oz) all-purpose flour.
  • 300 ml (10 fl oz) sunflower or vegetable oil for frying.
Instructions
  1. Add the olive oil, 4 garlic cloves, one bunch of parsley and mint in a food processor and create a nice paste. Add the paste into a large bowl together with the eggs, Ouzo and spices. Whisk the mixture well. Add the bread and knead well until you have a homogeneous mixture.
  2. Introduce the meats into the bowl and knead well for a couple of minutes so all of the ingredients are mixed well. Let it rest for ~ 30 minutes in the fridge.
  3. Take a small ball of the mixture and create an elongated but not too thick meatball. Cover with flower and set aside. Repeat for the rest of the meatballs.
  4. Heat up the sunflower oil in a large frying pan on medium-high heat. When the oil is hot add the meatballs and fry them until they get evenly brown. When ready, put them on a tray which is covered by paper towel to absorb the excess oil.
  5. Add the tomatoes, 2 garlic cloves and the rest of the parsley in a food processor to create a nice paste.
  6. In a large frying pan or deep pot add 4-5 tablespoons of olive oil on medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it starts getting brown. Add the paste from the blender, the passata, the oregano and season with salt and pepper. You can add a bit of paprika and chili powder if you like. Give it a good stir, change the heat to low and let it cook for ~ 10 minutes.
  7. When the sauce starts to thicken, introduce the meatballs in the pan or pot and cover with a lid. Let the Soutzoukakia simmer for ~ 15 minutes while giving an occasional stir.
  8. Enjoy you Soutzoukakia with Basmati rice of mashed potatoes.
  9. Bon appetit!
Recipe by SocraticFood at http://socraticfood.com/spicy-greek-meatballs-in-tomato-sauce-soutzoukakia/