Greek Lamb Meatballs
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
7 mins
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Total Time
17 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
555 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Appetizer
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Cuisine
Greek
Greek Lamb Meatballs
Description
These Greek Lamb Meatballs, or keftethes, start by blending onion, garlic, feta cheese, breadcrumbs, parsley, and mint into a paste, which is mixed into the ground lamb with salt, cumin, allspice, black pepper, and lemon zest. Shaping the mixture into walnut-sized balls, they can be cooked in a hot pan with olive oil to get a golden crust or baked in the oven until cooked through and browned.
The accompanying spiced yogurt sauce, made from Greek yogurt, sumac, olive oil, and lemon juice, adds freshness and tang to the meatballs. Serving with pita, sliced red onion, pomegranate seeds, parsley, and lemon wedges provides contrasting textures and bright flavors. The meatballs are rich and savory with a subtle herbal and citrus note from the herbs and zest.
This dish works well as an appetizer with various dips or as part of a larger meal with salads or rice sides. The inclusion of feta and herbs gives a distinct Greek flavor, and the yogurt sauce complements the lamb's richness efficiently.
Leftover meatballs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days, enjoyed cold or reheated in a pan or microwave. They also can be incorporated into a simple tomato sauce to serve with pasta, extending their versatility.
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 1 red onion , roughly chopped
- 3 garlic cloves
- 75 g feta cheese cubed or crumbled, 1/2 cup
- 70 g breadcrumbs one slice of toaster bread, 3/4 cup
- 2 tbsp parsley fresh
- 1 tbsp mint fresh
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp cumin ground
- ¼ tsp allspice
- ¼ tsp black pepper ground
- 1 lemon , zest only (use the lemon to serve on side)
- 450 g lamb, ground 1 lb
- 2 tbsp olive oil , if you are pan frying
Spiced Yogurt Sauce
- 250 g Greek yogurt 1 cup
- 2 tsp sumac
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
To serve
- pita bread
- red onion thinly sliced
- pomegranate seeds optional, handful
- parsley roughly chopped, to serve, fresh; handful
- lemon wedges
- olive oil to drizzle
Instructions
- Put the onion, garlic, feta cheese, bread and herbs in a mini chopper and process until a paste forms. Alternatively mince the onion and garlic using a grater, use Panko breadcrumbs, crumble the feta cheese using a fork and finey chop the herbs.
- Add to the ground lamb in a large bowl with remaining ingredients (salt, spices, pepper and lemon zest). Mix well using your hands.
- Start rolling the mince into small meatballs about the size of a walnut.
- Once all the mince is used up, heat a tablespoon of oil in a large pan. Fry the meatballs, in batches, for about 3 minutes on each side until golden.
OVEN BAKED MEATBALLS
- Preheat the oven to 200C (400F) and line a large tray with baking paper.
- Space the meatballs out on the tray, a few inches apart.
- Bake 15-20 minutes, flipping the meatballs halfway through, until golden and cooked through.
To serve
- Mix all the ingredients for the yogurt sauce in a bowl.
- Serve the meatballs with the yogurt and other dips such as hummus, tzatziki with the pita bread and lemon wedges on the side.
Notes
- Serve these meatballs as appetizers with dips like tzatziki, spiced yogurt, or hummus and pita bread.
- They pair well with salads such as orzo, herbed rice, or Greek potato salad.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
- Enjoy cold or warm leftovers by reheating in a pan or microwave.
- Leftovers can be added to tomato sauce and served with pasta for a different meal.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 555 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 555kcal | 28% |
| Carbohydrates | 22g | 7% |
| Protein | 31g | 62% |
| Fat | 38g | 58% |
| Saturated Fat | 16g | 80% |
| Cholesterol | 102mg | 34% |
| Sodium | 1041mg | 43% |
| Potassium | 103mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 329IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 18mg | 20% |
| Calcium | 224mg | 22% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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