5.0 from 6 votes
Greek Lamb Meatballs (Keftedes Tiganites)
Keftedes are juicy Greek lamb meatballs with a crispy, golden crust. Packed with herbs, cheese, and onions, they’re ready in 30 minutes!
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
34 mins
Servings: 36
Calories: 105 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Mediterranean
Ingredients
- 1 large red onion grated
- 2 lbs ground lamb or beef
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 cup fresh mint chopped
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (See Note 1)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup flour for dredging
- olive oil (for frying)
Instructions
- Grate the red onion over a bowl, transfer to a sieve and press to extract excess water. Discard onion water.
- Transfer grated onion to a large bowl along with the lamb, garlic, oregano, mint, cumin, coriander, breadcrumbs, egg, oil, cheese, salt and pepper. Mix using your hands and squeeze mixture until thoroughly mixed.
- Set up small bowl with flour. Shape meat mixture into walnut size meatballs (See Note 2) and roll in the flour to coat. Gently shake excess flour off and place on a tray. Repeat and you should end up with 36 meatballs.
Cup of Yum
Fried Version
- Heat 1/2-inch of olive oil in a deep skillet until it just starts to shimmer. Fry the meatballs for 7 minutes and brown all over in several batches. Remove and keep warm on a paper towel lined plate.
Baked Version
- Bake in 400°F oven for 20 minutes on parchment lined, rimmed baking sheet.
Serve
- Serve with tzatziki sauce, warm pita for an appetizer on a meze platter or as a main dish with steamed rice and a Greek Feta Salad.
Notes
- A traditional Greek kefalotyri cheese is preferred if you can find it.
- After rolling the meatballs and before rolling in the flour, I often times save half the batch to freeze. Later, when ready to use, thaw and dredge in flour before frying.
- You could also bake these on a tray after dredging in the flour in a 400°F oven for 18-20 minutes if you do not want to fry. They will not be as crispy though.
Nutrition Information
Calories
105kcal
(5%)
Carbohydrates
3g
(1%)
Protein
5g
(10%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
4g
Trans Fat
0.001g
Cholesterol
24mg
(8%)
Sodium
105mg
(4%)
Potassium
74mg
(2%)
Fiber
0.3g
(1%)
Sugar
0.2g
(0%)
Vitamin A
29IU
(1%)
Vitamin C
0.4mg
(0%)
Calcium
19mg
(2%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 36Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 105
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 105kcal | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 3g | 1% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 0.001g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 24mg | 8% |
| Sodium | 105mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 74mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 0.3g | 1% |
| Sugar | 0.2g | 0% |
| Vitamin A | 29IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 0.4mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 19mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.