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4.7 from 45 votes

Greek Meatballs (Keftedes)

These Keftedes (Greek Meatballs) are crispy on the outside and super juicy within! Made with lean turkey mince, red onion, feta, wholemeal breadcrumbs, mint and oregano. Serve as appetiser or mezze spread with tzatziki and Greek salad or turn into a meal. These healthy meatballs are perfect for Slimming World!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
22 mins
Servings: 5
Calories: 361 kcal
Course: Main Course , Appetizer
Cuisine: Greek

Ingredients

  • 750 g / 1.65 lbs lean turkey mince or use ground beef, pork or lamb
  • 90 g / 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs (2 slices of bread or prepared breadcrumbs)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 red onion , minced
  • 100 g / 3.5oz feta (about 2/3 cup) , finely crumbled
  • 16 mint leaves , chopped
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tbsp rapeseed or light olive oil to fry

Instructions

To pan fry
    Cup of Yum
  1. Put your mince into a large bowl and add the breadcrumbs, onion, egg, crumbled feta cheese, herbs, garlic powder and salt.
  2. Use a wooden spoon to roughly combine everything together then use your hands to mix well for a few minutes. If you have time cover the bowl and pop in the fridge for 30 minutes. It will make it easier to roll the meatballs.
  3. Roll the meatballs with slightly damp hands – they should be about the size of a ping pong ball (1.57” | 4cm). This recipe makes 35 meatballs.
  4. Heat the oil in a large skillet or frying pan and fry in batches over medium heat. The meatballs will need 5-6 minutes per side until they are nicely browned on all sides and cooked all the way through. Do not crowd the pan as the temperature will drop and they will take longer to cook. Place the cooked meatballs on a plate lined with paper towel as you cook the batches.
Bake in the oven
  1. Spread the meatballs on a baking tray covered with greaseproof paper and spray with a little cooking oil (such Fry Light).
  2. Bake in a 180C (350F) preheated oven for about 20 minutes, flipping over half way through.

Notes

  • To freeze meatballs raw: Place on a tray lined with greaseproof paper, spaced slightly apart. Put the tray in the freezer for a few hours until the meatballs are solid. Pop the frozen meatballs in an airtight container or freezer bags and use within a month. Thaw overnight in the fridge (in a single layer) then cook.To freeze cooked meatballs: Cool the cooked meatballs then pop them in freezer bags labeled with the date. Use within three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and then heat until completely hot all the way through, or add them to pasta sauce.
  • Feta cheese is part of your Healthy Extras (a) and wholemeal bread is a Healthy Extra (b). All other ingredients are free so I think we can call these SYN FREE if fried using low calorie cooking spray or baked in the oven.

Nutrition Information

Calories 361kcal (18%) Carbohydrates 19g (6%) Protein 34g (68%) Fat 18g (28%) Saturated Fat 7g (35%) Cholesterol 162mg (54%) Sodium 903mg (38%) Potassium 409mg (12%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 375IU (8%) Vitamin C 6.3mg (7%) Calcium 148mg (15%) Iron 3.6mg (20%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 5Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 361

% Daily Value*

Calories 361kcal 18%
Carbohydrates 19g 6%
Protein 34g 68%
Fat 18g 28%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 162mg 54%
Sodium 903mg 38%
Potassium 409mg 9%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 375IU 8%
Vitamin C 6.3mg 7%
Calcium 148mg 15%
Iron 3.6mg 20%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.