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Keftedes in Lemon Sauce Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 100 reviews

Keftedes in Lemon Sauce is a classic Greek dish featuring tender meatballs made from ground pork and beef, flavored with herbs and spices, then simmered in a bright and tangy lemon sauce. This comforting recipe combines juicy, seared meatballs with a luscious buttery lemon sauce, perfect for a hearty lunch or dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatballs

  • 200 grams (7 ounces) ground pork
  • 400 grams (14 ounces) lean ground beef
  • 1 large egg
  • 100 grams (3.5 ounces) crustless bread
  • 125 ml (½ cup) white wine
  • 100 grams (½ cup) onion, minced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano + extra for serving
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley (or fresh minced)
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt + extra for sauce
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper + extra for sauce
  • Olive oil, for frying

Sauce

  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (500 ml) hot water or stock (vegetable, beef, or chicken)
  • 8–10 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Soak Bread: Tear the crustless bread into smaller pieces and soak it in white wine for a couple of minutes until softened.
  2. Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground pork, ground beef, egg, minced parsley, oregano, cumin, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper.
  3. Add Soaked Bread: Crumble the soaked bread into the meat mixture as much as possible to help bind the meatballs.
  4. Knead Mixture: Knead the meatball mixture thoroughly until it becomes uniform and well combined.
  5. Shape Meatballs: Form the mixture into 15 oval-shaped meatballs, each weighing about 65-70 grams, and place them on a large plate.
  6. Chill Meatballs: Refrigerate the shaped meatballs for about one hour to firm up and hold their shape during cooking.
  7. Sear Meatballs: Heat a generous splash of olive oil in a large skillet or non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Sear the meatballs on both sides to brown them, without flipping or disturbing for the first 4 minutes. Then carefully turn using two forks to brown all sides.
  8. Drain Excess Oil: Transfer seared meatballs to paper towels to drain any excess oil, then set aside.
  9. Prepare Sauce – Melt Butter: In a sauté pan, melt butter over moderate heat.
  10. Cook Flour: Add flour to the melted butter and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spatula, for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is sandy in color and smells like toasted flour.
  11. Add Liquids: Pour in the hot water or stock along with the lemon juice, stirring well to combine into a smooth sauce.
  12. Simmer Meatballs in Sauce: Add the seared meatballs to the sauce, cover with a lid, and simmer gently for about 20 minutes. Turn the meatballs once during cooking and scrape the bottom of the pan to prevent sticking.
  13. Adjust Seasoning and Serve: Taste the sauce and add extra salt, pepper, or lemon juice as desired. Serve the keftedes warm, topped with freshly ground black pepper and a sprinkle of dried oregano.

Notes

  • Using a mix of pork and beef adds richness and juiciness to the meatballs.
  • Allowing the meatballs to chill before cooking helps them keep their shape and cook evenly.
  • Adjust the lemon juice quantity based on your preferred level of tartness in the sauce.
  • Simmering the meatballs in the lemon sauce infuses them with bright citrus flavor and keeps them tender.
  • This dish pairs beautifully with crusty bread, rice, or roasted vegetables.

Keywords: Keftedes, Greek meatballs, lemon sauce, pork and beef meatballs, Mediterranean recipes, traditional Greek cuisine, easy dinner, meatball recipe

Find it online: https://kochenmitviktoria.com/keftedes-in-lemon-sauce-recipe/