**Eastern European Meatballs: A Culinary Journey through Different Cultures**
Embark on a delectable culinary adventure as we explore the diverse world of Eastern European meatballs. From the hearty Serbian Ćevapčići to the aromatic Greek Keftedes, each recipe captures the unique culinary heritage of its respective region. Discover the secrets behind these flavorful orbs of minced meat, ranging from traditional ingredients to innovative twists. Whether you prefer the bold flavors of Balkan spices or the delicate herbs of Mediterranean cuisine, this collection of recipes promises an unforgettable taste experience. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with these delectable Eastern European meatballs, each bursting with distinct flavors and textures that will transport you to the heart of these vibrant cultures.
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**Ćevapčići (Serbian Meatballs):**
Savor the robust flavors of Serbian cuisine with Ćevapčići, expertly crafted meatballs made from a blend of minced beef, lamb, and pork. These elongated ovals are seasoned with a harmonious blend of garlic, onion, and paprika, then grilled to perfection. Enjoy them with a dollop of kajmak (clotted cream) for an authentic Serbian experience.
**Keftedes (Greek Meatballs):**
Delight in the aromatic embrace of Keftedes, quintessential Greek meatballs renowned for their tender texture and burst of Mediterranean flavors. Ground beef or lamb is combined with fresh herbs like mint, parsley, and oregano, along with savory spices and tangy feta cheese. Pan-fried until golden brown, these meatballs are often served with a refreshing tzatziki sauce, embodying the essence of Greek cuisine.
**Frikadeller (Danish Meatballs):**
Experience the simplicity and comfort of Danish Frikadeller, meatballs that embody the culinary traditions of Denmark. Minced pork and beef are seasoned with a touch of nutmeg, allspice, and lemon zest, creating a harmonious balance of flavors. These pan-fried meatballs are typically served with boiled potatoes and a creamy gravy, offering a taste of Danish home cooking at its finest.
**Kotopoulo Souvlaki (Greek Chicken Meatballs):**
Indulge in the succulent Kotopoulo Souvlaki, a delectable twist on classic Greek meatballs made with minced chicken. These tender meatballs are seasoned with a vibrant blend of oregano, lemon, and garlic, capturing the essence of Greek flavors. Grilled to perfection on skewers, they are best enjoyed with a refreshing tzatziki sauce, embodying the vibrant spirit of Greek cuisine.
**Rissoles (Polish Meatballs):**
Embark on a culinary journey to Poland with Rissoles, meatballs that showcase the country's rich culinary heritage. Ground pork and beef are combined with a medley of savory ingredients like mushrooms, breadcrumbs, and onions, creating a symphony of flavors. These pan-fried meatballs are often served with a creamy mushroom sauce, offering a taste of Polish comfort food at its finest.
EUROPEAN STYLE MEATBALLS
This is delicious. I used to make them with veal, but around here, if you can actually find any ground veal, it runs about 18.00 per pound! So I remade the recipe using beef and pork.
Provided by Amy H.
Categories Beef
Time 50m
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- 1. Combine meatball ingredients except for canola oil in a large bowl and mix well. Shape mixture into 1 1/2 inch balls.
- 2. Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a deep skillet. Brown meatballs on all sides. About 5 to 6 minutes or until well browned. Remove meatballs, reserving drippings in skillet.
- 3. Add mushrooms to pan with drippings, saute until soft. Add flour to pan drippings; stir until blended, reduce heat; add sour cream, browning sauce, salt and pepper, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk.
- 4. Return meat balls to skillet and cook over low heat for 15 minutes.
- 5. Mix hot cooked noodles with butter and sprinkle with poppy seeds.
- 6. Serve meatballs over noodles.
EAST EUROPEAN MEATBALLS
This is my recipe for meatballs that I've put together after experimenting with various ingredients. All those who had these found them yummy. I hope you will too. It works as an appetizer (on their own), or as a main course (served with mashed potatoes, pasta and a tomato based or creamy sauce).
Provided by TarragonBoy
Categories Meatballs
Time 40m
Yield 36 meatballs, 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Chop the onions finely. Put a little canola oil in a pan, turn the heat to medium. When the oil is hot, add the onions and a pinch of salt, turn down the heat to low-medium and saute, covered, for about 10 mins, until yellow and soft. Simmer from time to time.
- Remove the onions from the pan, and put on a bowl to cool down.
- Grate the carrot using the coarse side of the grater. Squeeze well between your palms afterwards, to get rid of all the water.
- Grate the potatoes using the fine side of the grater. Squeeze well between your palms afterwards.
- Dunk the slices of bread (crust removed) in a little milk for 3 seconds and then squeeze well between palms to get rid of all the liquid.
- Mince the garlic cloves (you can remove the germs if you wish - in this way, the garlic smell won't stay with you 2 days afterwards).
- Remove the leaves from the parsley and dill, and finely chop them.
- Put the minced meat, potatoes, carrot, eggs, garlic, onion, bread slices, dill, parsley, bread crumbs, pepper in a large bowl. Mix everything together (with your hands or mixer). Add 1/2 Tbs salt, mix, and taste the composition. Add another 1/2 Tbs salt if you think it's needed. I normally put 1 Tbsp salt in total. Also, of course, you can add more pepper if you like it more spicy.
- Press the mixture against the pan and 'pat' it slightly with you hands to look uniform. Then cover the bowl and let the mixture rest in the fridge for 1 hour. This will firm up the mixture.
- Remove the mixture from the fridge 20 minutes before cooking.
- Take 1 heaped Tblsp of mixture at a time, and with your hands wet, form the meatballs. Place the meatballs on a plate.
- In a deep medium sized frying pan, put canola oil until it's about 1.5 inches in height. Let the oil heat up on a medium-high heat. It's important that the pan is not too wide, so that the oil inside is quite deep in order to cover the meatballs well from all sides when cooking.
- When the oil is hot, turn down the heat to medium, and put the meatballs in the pan. Fry on one side for 4 mins, then turn on the other side, fry for 4 mins, then 1 min again on each side.
- Remove the meatballs from the pan and place on a paper towel to absorb the oil.
- That's it! I hope you'll like :).
EAST-EUROPEAN MEATBALLS
A delicious recipe that goes perfectly with pasta and tomato sauce, with green peas sautee, or just as a simple appetizer when you need to entertain a big bunch of people - just stick some toothpicks in them on a tray.
Provided by Ramo-san
Categories Pork
Time 55m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- (you will need more than those 75ml oil. Those 75ml are about the quantity that gets absorbed in the process and therefore will be part of the nutrition info).
- Soak the bread in water (or milk) and the crush it into small crumbs.
- Mix together in a big bowl, by hand: the meat, the onion, the potato, the garlic, the bread and the egg (raw).
- Add salt and pepper to taste then add 2 teaspoons of paprika.
- Mix until homogenous.
- Oil hands and make small balls out of the meat mix (about 2. 5-3cm (1") in diameter).
- In a big cast-iron pan, pour sunflower oil to cover the pan bottom about 1cm (1/2") and heat it on medium high heat (level 6).
- When hot, roll the meatballs one by one through the flour and place them in the pan.
- Do not overcrowd the pan, as you will need space to turn the meatballs around.
- Turn the heat lower (to level 4-5) and keep an eye on the meatballs at all times as they can burn quickly.
- When they get a bit golden, turn them around.
- You will have to turn them at least 2 times until they are done (it will take about 15-20 minutes for one round).
- When done, they will have a light brown colour and they will be done on the inside too (you have to try them).
- Delish!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 260, Fat 17.9, SaturatedFat 5, Cholesterol 54.6, Sodium 73.3, Carbohydrate 13.6, Fiber 1.3, Sugar 0.8, Protein 10.9
EASY MEATBALLS
My husband makes these easy meatballs with simple ingredients like eggs, panko bread crumbs, garlic powder, and fresh basil, and they come out flavorful and delicious every time! Kids love them too! If desired, add the cooked meatballs to your favorite sauce until submerged (this brings out the moistness).
Provided by Love2Cook
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 25m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Mix eggs, Italian seasoning, basil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder together in a large bowl. Add beef and panko bread crumbs and mix thoroughly.
- Shape mixture into about forty 1 1/2-inch balls, a little smaller than golf balls, using a teaspoon. Place on ungreased, rimmed baking sheets.
- Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the centers, turning halfway through cooking time, 10 to 15 minutes total.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 245.4 calories, Carbohydrate 5.9 g, Cholesterol 117.5 mg, Fat 15.3 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 21.6 g, SaturatedFat 5.9 g, Sodium 406.9 mg, Sugar 0.2 g
EASY HOMEMADE MEATBALLS
This is the recipe for easy homemade meatballs that my mother used growing up. I now make them for my family, and my picky husband loves them. Serve with your choice of pasta.
Provided by Donelle
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 40m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Combine beef and egg in a large bowl. Add bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Mix together, but do not overmix, as it will get tough.
- Shape into 1- to 2-inch balls.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook meatballs in the hot skillet until browned and no longer pink in the centers, 3 to 5 minutes per side.
- Meanwhile, heat marinara sauce in a pot over medium-low heat. Add cooked meatballs to sauce and let simmer for added flavor, about 15 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 525.6 calories, Carbohydrate 44.8 g, Cholesterol 125.8 mg, Fat 25 g, Fiber 7.4 g, Protein 29.7 g, SaturatedFat 8.4 g, Sodium 1180.4 mg, Sugar 20.1 g
BEST EASY MEATBALLS
Full of flavor from Italian herbs, Parmesan cheese, and a blend of ground round and Italian sausage, these meatballs have a nice crust thanks to a bit of time in the oven before they're slow-simmered in marinara sauce. They're the perfect complement to Sunday spaghetti!
Provided by NicoleMcmom
Time 2h45m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Spray foil lightly with cooking spray.
- Combine onion, bread crumbs, half-and-half, Parmesan cheese, eggs, egg yolk, garlic, basil, parsley, and oregano in a large bowl; stir until well combined. Add ground round and sausage and sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper. Mix well until just combined.
- Dampen hands with water and form mixture into 18 golf ball-sized meatballs. Arrange meatballs on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven until browned, 12 to 15 minutes.
- Transfer meatballs to a large pot and add marinara sauce. Simmer over low heat for at least 2 hours before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 568.3 calories, Carbohydrate 38.6 g, Cholesterol 178.6 mg, Fat 31.4 g, Fiber 6.4 g, Protein 31.1 g, SaturatedFat 11.6 g, Sodium 1717.9 mg, Sugar 21 g
DUTCH EAST INDIES MEATBALLS
These can be served as appetizers, or over rice as a main dish. The surprise is the chunk of pineapple in the middle of the meatball! This makes 4 servings as a main dish, or 8 appetizer servings.
Provided by breezermom
Categories Pineapple
Time 35m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Drain the pineapple chunks, reserving 1/2 cup syrup. Set aside.
- Combine the ground round, breadcrumbs, milk, beaten egg, chopped onion, and chopped parsley. Mix well. Shape the mixture into 16 meatballs, inserting a pineapple chunk into the center of each meatball. Set any remaining pineapple chunks aside.
- Combine the butter, oil, and curry powder in a large skillet. Brown the meatballs in the butter mixture over medium heat until browned. Drain meatballs, discarding the drippings. Set aside and keep warm.
- Combine the reserved pineapple syrup, vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, and soy sauce in a saucepan; stir well. Add pineapple chunks; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Serve meatballs with the sauce. (over rice as a main dish, or with toothpicks as an appetizer).
Tips:
- For the best meatballs, use a combination of ground beef and pork. This will give them a juicy and flavorful texture.
- Don't overmix the meatball mixture. Overmixing will make the meatballs tough.
- Be sure to brown the meatballs well before simmering them in the sauce. This will help them to develop a nice crust and flavor.
- Use a flavorful sauce for the meatballs. A good option is a tomato-based sauce with herbs and spices.
- Serve the meatballs with your favorite sides, such as mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta.
Conclusion:
These Eastern European meatballs are a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a family meal. They are easy to make and can be served with a variety of sides. So next time you're looking for a comforting and flavorful meal, give these meatballs a try.
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