Best 8 Lemony Greek Meatballs Recipes

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Tantalize your taste buds with our exquisite Lemony Greek Meatballs, a delectable fusion of Mediterranean flavors. These succulent meatballs, infused with a symphony of lemon, garlic, and herbs, are the epitome of culinary delight. Accompanied by three tantalizing sauces – a tangy lemon sauce, a creamy tzatziki sauce, and a spicy tomato sauce – these meatballs offer a culinary adventure like no other. Whether you prefer the zesty kick of lemon, the refreshing coolness of tzatziki, or the vibrant heat of tomato, these sauces elevate the meatballs to a symphony of flavors. Prepare to embark on a taste sensation that will leave you craving more.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

KOFTEDES GREEK MEATBALLS



Koftedes Greek Meatballs image

All-star keftedes Greek meatballs recipe. Tender on the inside, crispy on the outside. Flavor-packed with fresh mint, spices and a lemony Greek sauce!

Provided by The Mediterranean Dish

Categories     Entree

Time 35m

Number Of Ingredients 20

1 medium yellow onion, grated
3 garlic cloves, minced
Private Reserve Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil (click here to purchase)
1 slice, day old bread, cubed and soaked in milk (you can use pita bread, if you like)
1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 lb ground lamb or pork
1 large egg PLUS 1 egg yolk, divided
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
1 tbsp organic ground coriander
1 tsp dried oregano, preferably Greek oregano
1 tsp organic ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Salt and pepper
3 lemons, zested and juiced
Flour for dredging
1 1/4 cup chicken broth
1 Greek salad recipe
1 Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
Pita Bread

Steps:

  • If serving in bowls as suggested in this post, first prepare the Greek salad according to this recipe (dress salad later, if you prefer) and Tzatziki sauce according to this recipe. Set aside or refrigerate for now.
  • In a large skillet like this one, heat 2 tbsp Private Reserve olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until golden and translucent, stirring regularly. Transfer the onions and garlic mixture to a large mixing bowl to cool. Set skillet aside for later.
  • Wring the excess milk out of the soaked bread. Add the bread to the mixing bowl.
  • To the mixing bowl add the ground beef and lamb (or pork), 1 egg, fresh mint, spices, salt and pepper, and 1 tbsp lemon zest. Mix by hand until until mixture is fully incorporated.
  • Form the meat mixture into balls (each the size of a heaping tablespoon.) Roll meatballs into the flour to lightly coat and place them on a large tray for now.
  • In the large skillet you used earlier, add 1/4 cup Private Reserve olive oil. Heat over medium-high. Turn heat to medium and add the meatballs to cook (do this in batches if you need to.) Cook meatballs for 10 minutes or so, turning occasionally, until fully cooked and well-crusted on all sides.
  • With a slotted spoon, remove meatballs from skillet onto paper towels to drain any excess fat. Meanwhile, carefully discard most of the cooking fat from skillet (best to dump into a tin can until cooled). Return skillet to stove-top over medium heat.
  • Whisk the 1 egg yolk with the chicken broth and lemon juice. Add to cooking skillet with the remaining lemon zest, then add the meatballs back in. Cook over medium heat for another 5 minutes until the lemon sauce thickens.
  • Serve hot in bowls with pita bread, Greek salad and Tzatziki sauce. Or serve in pita pockets as sandwiches, if you prefer.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 4 meatballs, Calories 134 calories, Sugar 5.8 g, Sodium 188.9 mg, Fat 6.2 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, TransFat 0.1 g, Carbohydrate 8.9 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 11.5 g, Cholesterol 49.7 mg

LEMONY GREEK MEATBALLS



Lemony Greek Meatballs image

These tender meatballs feature the classic Greek flavor combination of lemon, garlic, and oregano. Beef and lamb are combined with a simple red wine sauce; if you change the meats used to chicken and/or turkey, just use white wine instead of red. From "The Meatball Cookbook Bible"...

Provided by loof751

Categories     Meatballs

Time 35m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 small red onion
3 garlic cloves
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano (or 2 t dried)
3/4 lb ground lamb
1/2 lb ground beef
1 cup dry red wine
2 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh is best)
vegetable cooking spray
salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Finely chop the onion. Mince the garlic.
  • Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray the foil with vegetable oil spray.
  • Heat oil in a small skillet to medium-high. Saute onion and garlic for about 3 minutes or until onion is translucent.
  • In a large bowl blend egg and milk. Add breadcrumbs, 2T parsley, and oregano and mix well. Add half of the sauteed onion mixture, the lamb, and the beef to the bowl; season with salt and pepper and mix well.
  • Form the mixture into 1 1/2 inch meatballs and put them on the prepared pan. Spray the tops of the meatballs with vegetable oil spray. Bake meatballs at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
  • While meatballs are baking, add the wine to the skillet with the remaining onion mixture and bring to a boil. Cook until liquid is reduced by half. Add lemon juice and remaining 2T parsley and cook an additional 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Place the cooked meatballs in a shallow bowl and pour the wine mixture over them. Toss gently to coat well. Serve immediately.

GREEK MEATBALLS WITH LEMON SAUCE



Greek Meatballs With Lemon Sauce image

Make and share this Greek Meatballs With Lemon Sauce recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Julie Bs Hive

Categories     Lamb/Sheep

Time 30m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 beaten egg
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup fine dry breadcrumb
1/3 cup snipped parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried mint, crushed
1 lb ground ham or 1 lb ground beef
1 tablespoon shortening
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 dash white pepper
1 cup milk
2 chopped hard-cooked eggs
1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Steps:

  • Combine egg and milk in a large bowl. Stir in bread crums, parsley, onion, garlic, salt, mint, and a dash of pepper. Add ground meat and mix well then shape into 1-inch meatballs. Brown meatballs in the shorteneing. Cover meatballs and cook over low heat for 15-20 minutes. Drain off fat. Transfer meatballs to serving dish.
  • While meatballs are cooking make the lemon sauce. by melting the butter in a small saucepan. Blend in the flour , salt, and pepper. Add the milk and cook, stirring, until thick and bubbly. Cook 1-2 minutes longer. Stir in the chooped eggs, lemon peel, and lemon juice.
  • Goes very well with a nice white rice.

GREEK MEATBALLS WITH LEMON AND ARUGULA



Greek Meatballs with Lemon and Arugula image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 2h10m

Yield 6 (about 18 small meatballs)

Number Of Ingredients 16

1/3 cup converted rice
3 large eggs
1/2 pound lean ground lamb
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped deli-sliced provolone cheese (about 2 ounces)
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/3 cup chopped fresh mint
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh marjoram (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 3 lemons)
3 cups baby arugula
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

Steps:

  • Place the rice in a large microwave-safe bowl and add 1 cup water. Cover with plastic wrap, pierce with a knife a few times to vent, then microwave until the water is almost absorbed, 10 minutes. Uncover and fluff the rice with a fork; let cool completely.
  • Lightly beat 1 egg in a small bowl. Add to the bowl with the rice along with the lamb, beef, provolone, onion, half each of the mint and parsley, the marjoram, garlic, allspice, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Mix with your hands until just combined (do not overmix); cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
  • Dampen your hands and form the meat into 18 balls (about 1 1/2 inches each). Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the meatballs, cover and cook over medium heat until tender, about 30 minutes, turning halfway through.
  • Whisk the remaining 2 eggs and the lemon juice in a small bowl until frothy. Remove 1 cup broth from the pot and gradually whisk it into the egg mixture. Push the meatballs to one side of the pot; reduce the heat to low and pour the egg mixture into the other side. Cook, stirring gently, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining mint and parsley; season with salt and pepper. Serve the meatballs and sauce in shallow bowls. Top with arugula, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

GREEK LAMB MEATBALLS IN LEMON SAUCE



Greek Lamb Meatballs in Lemon Sauce image

Great lamb meatballs with an excellent lemon sauce.

Provided by Kerri

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Greek

Time 50m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 19

⅓ cup milk
1 egg
⅓ cup dry bread crumbs
⅓ cup snipped fresh mint
⅓ cup snipped fresh parsley
¼ cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1 clove garlic, minced
¾ teaspoon salt
1 pinch ground black pepper to taste
1 pound ground lamb
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, or as needed
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1 dash ground black pepper
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest

Steps:

  • Beat milk and egg together in a large bowl. Stir in bread crumbs, mint, parsley, onion, dill, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add ground lamb; mix well. Shape into 1-inch meatballs.
  • Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs; cook until browned, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Reduce heat and cover; cook until meatballs are no longer pink in the center, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan. Blend in flour, salt, and pepper. Add milk; cook and stir until thickened and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Simmer for 2 minutes more. Stir in lemon juice and zest.
  • Drain meatballs and transfer them to a serving dish. Spoon the lemon sauce on top.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 452.9 calories, Carbohydrate 16.2 g, Cholesterol 144.2 mg, Fat 31.4 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 25.8 g, SaturatedFat 12.6 g, Sodium 767.2 mg, Sugar 5.2 g

GREEK MEATBALLS



Greek Meatballs image

Provided by Michael Symon : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 50m

Yield 20 meatballs

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 cup grated onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup olive oil
1 cup day old bread, small diced and soaked in milk
1 pound ground beef or lamb
1 egg
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch nutmeg
1 lemon, zested
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Flour, for dredging
12 lemon wedges, for garnish
Mint leaves, for garnish

Steps:

  • In a medium skillet, sweat onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat until translucent, about 2 minutes. Let cool and set aside.
  • Wring the excess milk out of the soaked bread cubes.
  • Place all ingredients, except flour and garnishes, in a large mixing bowl and combine by hand until fully incorporated. Form into little meatballs (about 1-ounce each).
  • In a large skillet, heat remaining oil over medium heat. Dredge, or roll the meatballs in flour, and fry in the skillet until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and place on paper towels to drain the excess fat.
  • Place on platter and garnish with lemon wedges and torn mint leaves.

GREEK CREAMY LEMON MEATBALLS (AKA AVGOLEMONO)



Greek Creamy Lemon Meatballs (aka avgolemono) image

Yum, yum, yum! Such a refreshing take on a classic comfort food. Sign us up for seconds!

Provided by Didi Dalaba

Categories     Turkey

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 lb ground beef (i used turkey)
1 small onion diced fine (or 3 green onions diced fine, i used the latter)
1 1/4 c uncooked long grain rice (or whatever you have on hand)
1 tsp dried dill
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp granulated garlic (garlic powder)
1 egg
LEMON SAUCE
1 egg separated (yolk from egg white)
juice of 1 lemon or 1/3 cup bottled
pinch of salt
ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS
3 1/2 c water
1/4 c fresh parsley chopped fine *optional*
1 1/2 Tbsp chicken base (stock)
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Steps:

  • 1. a small bowl, add your meatball ingredients. Mix well till rice is incorporated thoroughly with the meat mixture and spices. Using your melon ball scooper. Scoop out meat balls and set on a plate, set aside! When you have finished making your meatballs, in a large non stick skillet, add your olive oil, let heat and add your meatballs.
  • 2. Let them brown on one side, turn over... and let them brown on the other side.
  • 3. Lower heat to as low as it can go... add your stock (chicken base). Add your water and cover the meatballs thoroughly!! Increase your heat to medium.
  • 4. Let the meatballs come to a boil/simmer. Lower the heat to low, cover and time them for approximately 15-18 minutes. Turn off heat when timer is done.
  • 5. This is what they will look like when the 18 minutes or so are over... See how perfectly cooked the rice is... love it!!
  • 6. Okay, let's get busy with that amazing lemon sauce shall we???? Gather your very simple ingredients! Juice your lemon, separate your egg. How simple can that be??? Now that you have separated your egg white from yolk, I want you take a whisk and beat the living daylights out of the eggwhite... till it's nice and frothy and creamy looking!! I don't want you to make it "meringue", we need it frothy....
  • 7. Take about 1/3 cup of the chicken broth from the now cooked meatballs and pour directly into the beaten egg white mixture. Easy right? Now we need to add the lemon into this... beat well with the whisk. Finally add your egg yolk and the pinch of salt. Beat just a smidgen more, like 10 whisks is all I'm saying. What you are doing is literally "tempering" the eggs. In other words, you are introducing a very hot mixture into a "neutral atmosphere". So the mixture will not "curdle" when brought back into the hot.
  • 8. Let the meatballs and now creamy lemon mixture come to a full boil. Turn off heat and your ready to serve!! Look at how creamy and low fat this sauce is... and did I mention AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS??? Our favorite way of eating this is over mashed potatoes... so darn good... just DELICIOUS!!!!!

YOUVARLAKIA AVGOLEMONO (LEMONY GREEK MEATBALL SOUP)



Youvarlakia Avgolemono (Lemony Greek Meatball Soup) image

Avgolemono is a Greek egg and lemon mixture that's tangy and silky, and used to thicken sauces and soups. In the United States, most versions of avgolemono soup brim with grains of rice and chunks of chicken. In this recipe, a riff on youvarlakia avgolemono, ground chicken and rice are rolled into meatballs, then simmered in the broth, making the whole thing heartier without losing the soup's characteristic brightness. Many recipes for youvarlakia call for ground beef, and, if you like you can substitute that here. Note that because of the eggs in the broth, leftovers do not freeze well.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Time 1h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 pound ground chicken (or ground turkey or beef), very cold
3/4 cup chopped fresh dill or parsley, plus more for garnish
1/2 cup grated yellow onion (from about 1 small onion)
1/4 cup grated carrot (from about 1 carrot)
1/4 cup uncooked long-grain rice, such as basmati or Carolina, well rinsed and drained
1 garlic clove, finely grated, pushed through a garlic press, or minced
1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
6 cups chicken stock
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
Freshly grated nutmeg, for serving (optional)

Steps:

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, 1/4 cup dill, onion, carrot, rice, garlic, salt, pepper and lemon zest. Gently mix with your hands until well combined.
  • Gently form the mixture into 24 meatballs, each about 1 1/4 inches in diameter, placing them on a plate or baking pan. Cover and chill for at least 20 minutes or up to 24 hours. This helps the meatballs keep their shape while cooking.
  • In a large pot, bring stock to a boil over high heat. Reduce to medium and use a slotted spoon to carefully add meatballs to the pot. The broth should cover the tops of the meatballs by about 1/2 inch. If not, add a little water. Simmer gently, adjusting the heat so the broth doesn't boil, until meatballs are cooked through and rice is tender, 25 to 35 minutes. (Break open a meatball to test it.) Remove pot from heat.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and lemon juice until just mixed. Slowly add a ladle of warm broth to egg-lemon mixture, whisking constantly. Whisk in another two ladles of broth to temper the egg mixture.
  • Slowly drizzle the egg-lemon mixture back into the pot with the meatballs, stirring gently so you don't break apart the meatballs. Return the pot to medium-low heat until it just starts to simmer. (Wait for a bubble or two to appear, but don't let the pot boil.) The broth should be silky. Remove from heat, stir in remaining 1/2 cup dill. Taste and add salt and pepper, if needed. (It may need quite a bit of salt if you are starting with unsalted broth.) Garnish with nutmeg, if you like, and dill, and serve.

Tips:

  • Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your meatballs.
  • Don't overmix the meatball mixture. Overmixing can make the meatballs tough.
  • Be gentle when forming the meatballs. Don't pack them too tightly, or they will be dense and dry.
  • Use a light touch when browning the meatballs. You don't want to overcook them, or they will be dry and tough.
  • Simmer the meatballs in the sauce for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld and the meatballs to become tender.
  • Serve the meatballs with your favorite pasta, rice, or vegetables.

Conclusion:

These lemony Greek meatballs are a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. They are made with a combination of ground beef and lamb, and they are flavored with a variety of herbs and spices, including lemon zest, oregano, and cumin. The meatballs are simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce, and they can be served with your favorite pasta, rice, or vegetables.

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