Best 3 Soutzoukakia Greek Meatballs In A Tomato Sauce Recipes
Soutzoukakia, a classic Greek dish featuring tender and flavorful meatballs simmered in a rich tomato sauce, is a culinary delight that tantalizes the taste buds. These meatballs, made from a combination of ground beef and pork, are seasoned with a medley of aromatic herbs and spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, creating a harmonious blend of flavors. They are then gently browned and nestled in a vibrant tomato sauce, infused with the essence of fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, and a hint of red wine, resulting in a delectable and comforting dish. Soutzoukakia is often served with fluffy rice, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread, providing a perfect canvas to soak up the savory sauce. This article presents three variations of soutzoukakia: the traditional Greek recipe, a modern twist with the addition of feta cheese, and a vegetarian version featuring hearty lentils instead of meat. Each recipe offers its own unique take on this beloved dish, ensuring that there's a perfect soutzoukakia for every palate.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
MEATBALLS IN TOMATO SAUCE (SOUTZOUKAKIA)
Moist and soft meatballs baked in a rich, Eastern-spiced tomato sauce.
Provided by [email protected]
Categories Main Course
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Heat a good splash of olive oil in a cooking pot, over high heat.
- Caramelize the onion and garlic.
- Pour in the wine. Add the allspice and bay leaves. Wait until wine evaporates completely.
- Add the tomato paste, the canned tomatoes and cook for 1-2 minutes stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add 4 cups of water, the sugar, ground cumin and season with salt and pepper. Simmer partly covered for about 30-40 minutes.
- Meanwhile, start making the meatballs.
- Preheat oven to 200°C / 392°F.
- In a mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the meatballs.
- Knead the mixture for 2-3 minutes for everything to incorporate well. It should feel very soft and moist. And just firm enough to hold some shape. Otherwise, you may add another splash of water to it.
- Divide mixture to about 14 parts. Shape each into a round ball and then give it a bit of oval shape. Place in a baking dish or pan that fits the meatballs and is deep enough to include the sauce as well.
- Once you placed all the meatballs in the pan or baking dish, pour the sauce on top all over using a ladle. Bake for about 40-50 minutes. Flipping the meatballs at least once so they cook evenly all over.
- Serve with rice, pasta, or potatoes. I added some toasted pine nuts and chopped fresh parsley on top. You can also serve them with some spicy red pepper flakes and a spoonful of Greek yogurt on top.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 meatball, Calories 200 kcal, Carbohydrate 7 g, Protein 11 g, Fat 14 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Cholesterol 52 mg, Sodium 112 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 2 g
SOUTZOUKAKIA (GREEK MEATBALLS IN A TOMATO SAUCE)
Lovely, delicately seasoned meatballs in a tomato sauce done in the style of the Greeks from Smyrna. This is a warming, hearty dish, great year round, but especially in winter.
Provided by evelynathens
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h15m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Soak the bread in the wine for about 5 minutes, or until thoroughly softened.
- Then, squeeze out and reserve the excess wine.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground meat with the wine soaked bread, onion, garlic, egg, parsley, grated cheese, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Mix the ingredients until thoroughly blended.
- Cover and chill for 1 to 2 hours.
- Dampen your hands, pinch off small portions of meat mixture, about the quantity of a teaspoon or just over, and shape into approximately 20 oval rolls (looks sort of like an elongated, slightly flattened, meatball).
- Dredge them in flour.
- Heat olive oil in a large frying pan.
- Add the meatballs and fry until browned all over, turning occasionally and allowing time for the meat to cook thoroughly. (alternatively, if you want a 'lighter' recipe, you could just brown in a non-stick pan or bake them in the oven - not as flavourful, but still good).
- Remove from the pan using a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Strain the oil you fried the meatballs in through a fine sieve into a cooking pan.
- Add all the sauce ingredients, and the reserved wine.
- Bring to a boil and simmer until the sauce is thick.
- Drop in the meatballs, stir to cover all over with the sauce, and simmer covered for 15 minutes.
- Serve hot with rice, french fries, or mashed potatoes.
SOUTZOUKAKIA (GREEK MEATBALLS IN TOMATO SAUCE)
This was posted for the Zaar World Tour 2005. You will often fins cinnamon used in Greek meat dishes, and this is one of them. Nice with rice.
Provided by -Sylvie-
Categories Meat
Time 50m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- For the meatballs, mix the ground beef, garlic, cumin, white wine, bread (squeeze out the wine and reserve to be used in the sauce) and egg.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Shape into approximately 30 sausage shaped patties, roll in flour and fry in oil until cooked through.
- Remove from pan, set aside on a plate covered with paper towels.
- For the sauce, bring the tomatoes stock and butter to a boil.
- Add the wine and the seasoning and simmer until sauce beginns to thicken.
- When the sauce starts to thicken, add the soutzoukakias and simmer for a further ten minutes.
Tips:
- Use fresh herbs and spices. Fresh herbs like oregano, thyme, and basil add a burst of flavor to the meatballs and sauce. Ground cumin and cinnamon add a warm, exotic touch.
- Don't overmix the meatball mixture. Overmixing can make the meatballs tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Brown the meatballs before simmering them in the sauce. Browning the meatballs gives them a nice crust and helps to keep them moist.
- Use a good quality tomato sauce. A good quality tomato sauce will make a big difference in the flavor of the dish. You can use a store-bought sauce or make your own.
- Serve the meatballs with your favorite sides. Soutzoukakia is traditionally served with rice or pasta. You can also serve it with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a salad.
Conclusion:
Soutzoukakia is a delicious and easy-to-make Greek dish that is perfect for any occasion. The meatballs are tender and flavorful, and the tomato sauce is rich and tangy. This dish is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
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