Soutzoukakia, pronounced "soo-tzoo-KAH-kee-ah", are delectable Greek meatballs simmered in a rich and flavorful tomato sauce. These meatballs are made with a combination of ground beef and pork, seasoned with a blend of aromatic herbs and spices, and then shaped into small, oblong balls. The meatballs are gently browned in olive oil before being added to the tomato sauce, which is made with fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, and a hint of red wine. The sauce is slow-simmered, allowing the flavors to meld and deepen, creating a delicious and comforting dish. Soutzoukakia is typically served with rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes and is a popular main course in Greek cuisine. It's a versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner and is sure to satisfy even the most discerning palate. In this article, we'll provide you with step-by-step instructions and additional tips for making the perfect Soutzoukakia. We'll also include a vegetarian variation of the meatballs for those who prefer a meatless option.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
GREEK BAKED MEATBALLS: SOUTZOUKAKIA
Perfectly tender baked meatballs, prepared Greek-style with onions, garlic, spices and fresh herbs in a special red sauce. Be sure to check out the notes for tips and ideas.
Provided by The Mediterranean Dish
Categories Entree
Time 1h20m
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- In a small bowl, place the toasted bread and cover with milk (or water) to soak. When bread is soft and well-soaked, squeeze the liquid out completely and discard remaining milk if any.
- Transfer the bread to a large mixing bowl. Add round beef and remaining meatball ingredients. Knead well until well-combined. Cover the meat mixture and rest in the fridge for now.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- While oven is heating, prepare the sauce. In a sauce pan or large skillet, heat 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add onions and cook for 3 minutes or so. Add garlic and cook for another minute, stirring regularly. Now add red wine and cook to reduce by about 1/2, then add tomato sauce, bay leaf and remaining sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Prepare a large baking dish and lightly oil the bottom with extra virgin olive oil.
- Take the meat mixture out of the fridge. Wet your hands and scoop portions of about 2 1/2 tbsp of the meat mixture and form into large elongated meatballs (football-shaped.) You should have 15 to 16 meatballs or so. Arrange meatballs in the papered baking dish and top with the sauce (be sure to have removed the bay leaf from the sauce.)
- Place the baking dish on the middle rack of your heated oven. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the meatballs are well cooked through (check part-way through to make sure sauce is not dry, and if needed, add a little bit of water to the bottom of the baking dish.)
- Remove from oven and add another drizzle of EVOO. Garnish with parsley and serve over rice or orzo.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 Large Meatball (average person will have 2), Calories 64 calories, Sugar 3 g, Sodium 177.8 mg, Fat 2.7 g, SaturatedFat 0.5 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 7.5 g, Fiber 1.7 g, Protein 2.2 g, Cholesterol 22.2 mg
SOUTZOUKAKIA (GREEK MEATBALLS IN A TOMATO SAUCE)
Served over rice. Hearty, Quick and Healthy. For an even healthier version use skim milk, no-salt-added tomato sauce, and rice cooked without salt or butter.
Provided by littleturtle
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 40m
Yield 5-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a medium sized bowl, combine first 11 ingredients; stir well.
- Shape mixture into 30 (1 1/4") meatballs.
- Place meatballs on rack of a broiler pan coated with cooking spray, and broil 5 1/2 inches from heat (with door partially open) 8-10 minutes or until browned, turning after 6 minutes.
- Drain and pat dry with paper towels.
- In a large skillet, combine tomato sauce and next 4 ingredients, and bring them to boil.
- Add meatballs; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
- Serve over rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 545.7, Fat 20.1, SaturatedFat 7.4, Cholesterol 65.3, Sodium 808.1, Carbohydrate 65.9, Fiber 4.3, Sugar 5.8, Protein 24.6
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:
- For the best flavor, use a combination of ground beef and ground pork.
- Soak the bread in milk before adding it to the meatball mixture. This will help keep the meatballs moist.
- Season the meatballs generously with salt, pepper, and oregano.
- Brown the meatballs in a pan before adding them to the tomato sauce. This will help them hold their shape.
- Use a good quality tomato sauce. You can either make your own or use a store-bought sauce.
- Simmer the meatballs in the tomato sauce for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve the meatballs with rice, pasta, or potatoes.
Conclusion:
Soutzoukakia is a delicious and easy-to-make Greek dish. These meatballs are made with a combination of ground beef and pork, and they are seasoned with salt, pepper, and oregano. The meatballs are browned in a pan before being simmered in a tomato sauce. Soutzoukakia is typically served with rice, pasta, or potatoes. This dish is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
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