Greek meatballs(Keftedakia)

[douma]

This is my grandmother's recipe,it's tranditional and very delicious

2 pounds ground beef (or 1/2 ground beef and 1/2 ground pork)
1/2 cup grated onion
1/2 cup fresh parsley(dry if you havn't fresh)
fresh or dry mint
4-5 slices white bread
salt and pepper
1 clove of fresh garlic(chopped)
2 eggs

flour for rolling
vegetable oil for frying

Moisten the bread in water for awhile,then remove the crusts and mix
the meat,onion,garlic,salt,pepper,mint,parsley and bread(don't express the water from the bread very well,it needs to keep water)
Shape into balls,roll in flour and fry in hot vegetable oil,when meatballs are cooked leave them on a paper for awhile to "pick up"the oil,you could serve meatballs hot or at room temperature.

Here we serve hot keftedakia with fried potatoes and Greek salad or with spagetti and tomato sauce or as appetizer hot or at room tem.
on a dish with pieces of gruyere,feta,tomatoes,olives,salami and ouzo or beer

BON APPETIT

 

[littleone]

Hi Sophia,

This is very similar to my Yiayia's recipe too, only difference is that she would soak the bread in some dry red wine and after the keftedes are cooked squeezed some fresh lemon juice on them. We broil the keftedakia. After shaping the meatballs, you can roll them in flour (if you want), put a small amount of oil (about 1 - 2 tablespoons) in the bottom of the broiler pan. Roll the balls in the oil, place in pan under broiler and then turn them over when the tops are nice and brown. Once they are cooked, put on paper towels to drain excess oil and serve as desired. You would never know that the keftedes aren't fried cooking them this way since they are nicely browned and crusty like a fried meatball would be, but less oily and an easier clean up of the kitchen and stove when you are done. Does your Yiayia make zouzoudakia too? My husband really likes these especially in the winter with pilafi. I can give you the recipe if you'd like.

Penny

 

[douma]

We broil the keftedakia.

When we broil the mix we named these Biftekia and then squeezed fresh lemon juice on them.

Does your Yiayia make zouzoudakia too? My husband really likes these especially in the winter with pilafi.

Yes i love souzoukakia,my yiayia made them great too,unfortunatelly my husband doesn't like them

Is your Yiayia from Greece?

 

[littleone]

Yes, my Yiayia came from Greece, arrived in NYC on New Year's Day January 1929. She came from Thymiana, Chios, Pappou was from Alatsata in Smyrna and my Father's family came from Cyprus - I'm a mix of different types of Greek ancestry. Yiayia and Pappou passed away many years ago, miss them both a lot, we still have all her old recipes and use them again and again. Hubby is Greek too, his family is from Narpactos (spelling?), it's on the mainland not far from Delphi and from Castellorizo (spelling?), it's an island that I believe is in the Aegean.

Lou (Elia) won't go near patsa, says it's nasty, the dogs love it though!

 

[douma]

Yes, my Yiayia came from Greece, arrived in NYC on New Year's Day January 1929.

My Papous and his brother too!They lived in NYC,my pappous came back,but his brother died in NY and we had never met him

Hubby is Greek too, his family is from Narpactos (spelling?), it's on the mainland not far from Delphi

Nafpaktos is a great place,i love to go there for weekends

Lou (Elia) won't go near patsa, says it's nasty, the dogs love it though!

I hate patsa,the smell and everything!!

 

[CondoPup]

The recipe sounds wonderful! I think I'll try that soon.
I wish I could just come over for dinner instead!

 

[douma]

I wish I could just come over for dinner instead!

You are welcome here!!

 

[CondoPup]

Thank you, Sophia! Next time I travel to Europe, maybe I'll venture a bit further and include Greece in the plans!

I'm going to make the meatballs for my sons this weekend, I'm sure they will love them. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

 

[littleone]

Hi Sophia,

Like the saying goes, "it's a small world" - Lou has NEVER been to Greece, and it's been many years since my last trip. He should be finished on the degree he's now working on by Spring and we've been playing around with the idea of taking a trip possibly next Summer. If we can swing the trip, maybe we'll be able to meet you, your family & Avra in Nafpaktos -

Have a good night,
Penny