Spiced Greek Meatballs (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Meatballs

01 - 225g ground pork
02 - 225g ground beef
03 - 150g slices of white bread (2-3 pieces)
04 - 60ml whole milk
05 - 30ml red wine
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 45ml olive oil (extra-virgin)
08 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, ground
10 - 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
11 - 60g plain flour for dusting
12 - 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
13 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
14 - 120ml neutral cooking oil (vegetable, sunflower, or light olive)

→ Tomato-Based Sauce

15 - 400g canned diced tomatoes
16 - 15g concentrated tomato puree
17 - 1 medium-sized red onion, chopped
18 - 240ml beef broth
19 - 120ml red wine
20 - 1 teaspoon cumin powder
21 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
22 - 1 teaspoon white sugar
23 - 1 cinnamon stick (or 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder)
24 - 1 bay leaf
25 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
26 - 45ml olive oil
27 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
28 - Fresh parsley for topping

# Instructions:

01 - Use a food processor to turn the bread slices into fine crumbs by pulsing until smooth.
02 - Mix the breadcrumbs with cumin, salt, pepper, and minced parsley in a large bowl.
03 - Stir in olive oil, wine, and milk with the breadcrumb mixture.
04 - To the bowl, add in the pork, beef, and egg. Mix well until the texture is blended evenly.
05 - Divide into 12 parts, then shape into log-like meatballs with your hands.
06 - Take each meatball and roll in flour until evenly dusted.
07 - Heat the neutral oil in a hot pan on medium-high. Fry meatballs for 7-8 minutes, turning them until they’re browned all over.
08 - Briefly place the fried meatballs onto paper towels to soak up extra grease.
09 - Start heating olive oil on medium in a large pan, then cook red onion with salt for 3-4 minutes.
10 - Turn heat lower. Toss in garlic, cumin, sugar, black pepper, and tomato paste, cooking for a minute until it smells amazing.
11 - Add the beef stock, red wine, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, and tomatoes into the pan. Mix well.
12 - Gently place the meatballs into the pan. Cover and let it bubble slowly for 12-15 minutes, turning them halfway, until the sauce thickens.
13 - Serve with white rice (or another side), and sprinkle parsley on top.

# Notes:

01 - Soutzoukakia is a classic Greek dish featuring spiced long meatballs served with tomato sauce that highlights cumin and cinnamon.

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