Greek Keftedes in Cinnamon-Tomato Sauce

⏱ 55 min · Serves 4

Soft, herby lamb and beef meatballs, fried until burnished then simmered in a glossy tomato sauce warmed with cinnamon and oregano. Proper Greek taverna comfort food — mop it up with bread or spoon it over rice.

Per serving: 525 kcal · 33.0g protein · 18.0g carbs · 36.0g fat

Ingredients

• 400g minced lamb
• 200g minced beef
• 1 thick slice stale white bread, crusts off
• 4 tbsp milk
• 1 small onion, grated
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 3 tbsp olive oil, for frying
• 1 onion, finely chopped (for sauce)
• 2 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
• 150ml water
• 1 small cinnamon stick (or 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon)
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 bay leaf
• Small handful parsley, to finish

Method

1. Soak the bread in the milk for 5 minutes, then squeeze out most of the liquid and crumble into a large bowl.
2. Add both minces, grated onion, crushed garlic, egg, mint, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix with your hands until just combined, then rest in the fridge for 15 minutes.
3. Roll into 20 walnut-sized balls, wetting your hands to stop sticking.
4. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a wide frying pan over medium-high heat and brown the keftedes in batches, 4–5 minutes each, turning until well coloured. Set aside — they need not be cooked through.
5. Wipe the pan, add the last tbsp oil and soften the chopped onion for 6 minutes. Add sliced garlic and tomato purée and cook 1 minute.
6. Tip in the tomatoes, water, cinnamon, oregano, sugar and bay leaf. Season and simmer 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
7. Return the meatballs, spooning sauce over. Cover and simmer gently 15 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally, until cooked through and the sauce is rich.
8. Fish out the cinnamon stick and bay, taste for salt, scatter with parsley and serve with rice, orzo or plenty of bread.