published Aug 11, 2021, updated Jul 19, 2023 Greece is a popular tourist destination for many reasons, one in particular being the incredible cuisine! Sharing delicious dishes from a mezze platter over great conversation (and glasses of ouza) is a fantastic way to spend an evening with friends or family. Mezze typically includes smaller items such as olives, spanakorizo or salad, and appetizers like kolokithokeftedes (fried squash patties). However, entrees can be shared too! It’s a perfect opportunity to sample a variety of main dishes such as pasticcio, Greek souvlaki, and lamachun, without filling up on just one. Fried or baked Greek meatballs would be a great addition to an entree meze!
Soutzoukakia
Cuisine: Mediterranean / Greek Alternate names/spellings: smyrna meatballs, soutzoukakia smyrneikaPreparation: Baked or friedDifficulty: Easy 🥄Description:Ground beef or lamb meatballs covered in rich, cinnamon-spiced tomato sauce
Shopping for the Ground Meat
You don’t need expensive cuts of beef, lamb and pork to make soutzoukakia. In fact, the best cuts of meat for meatballs are those with higher ratios of fat, which are also typically the least expensive. Whether you’ll be using lamb, beef, pork, or something else, be sure the blend you use has at least 15 percent fat, and 20 percent is even better. For beef meatballs, ground chuck is a great choice. Chuck is 15 to 20% fat, so it holds together well, keeps the meat moist and has a deep, rich beef flavor.For ground lamb meatballs, cuts from the shoulder and leg are best. These cuts of lamb are also a great choice for making other ground lamb recipes like Lebanese kafta kebab and kawarma (lamb hummus).
The Secret to Moist Meatballs
IMPORTANT NOTE:To reduce the risk of becoming sick from bacteria, any sauce that comes in contact with raw meat that will not be cooked should be discarded. Love this recipe? Share it with the world on Pinterest.
