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Greek Meatballs with Tomato Sauce (Soutzoukakia)
Known as soutzoukakia, these cigar-shaped meatballs are seasoned with cumin and garlic, then simmered in tomato sauce. The dish has origins in Smyrna, a former Greek settlement and now the Turkish city of Izmir on the Aegean coast. Our recipe is based on the soutzoukakia we learned from Alexandra Manousakis and Afshin Molavi of Manousakis Winery on the Greek island of Crete. Made with a combination of ground lamb and beef, the meatballs have a deep, rich flavor perfectly matched by the tangy-sweet tomato sauce. If you prefer, you can use 1 pound of either type of meat. An instant thermometer is the best way to check the meatballs for doneness; alternatively, cut one open—when done, the center should not be pink. The meatballs are browned on the stovetop, then finish cooking in the same pan in the oven, so you will need a 12-inch oven-safe skillet for this recipe. Soutzoukakia typically are offered as part of a meze spread, but served with rice, they’re a terrific main.
4 to 6
Servings
Don’t use tongs to turn the meatballs in the skillet. Until they’re browned on all sides, the soutzoukakia are quite delicate and easily marred by tongs. A thin metal spatula is better for rotating them.
1 hour 20 minutes
Ingredients
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2
medium yellow onions, peeled
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3
tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
Directions
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01Set a box grater in a medium bowl. Grate the onions on the large holes down to the root ends; reserve the box grater. Transfer half of the grated onion to a small bowl and set aside for the sauce. To the grated onion in the medium bowl, add the panko and ½ teaspoon salt; stir, then let stand until the panko is softened, about 10 minutes.
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Good, but didn’t wow. Will try again with crushed tomatoes, thinking the fresh tomatoes were lacking flavor this time of year. Summer tomatoes from the garden should be wonderful in this recipe. Will also use fresh oregano instead of dried in the meatball herb blend and sauce for added flavor.