Description
Delicious Meze Meatballs made with beef or lamb mince, seasoned with oregano, garlic, and parsley, coated in flour, and pan-fried to golden perfection. Served with refreshing cucumber and tomato salad, creamy hummus, tzatziki, and warm toasted pittas, these meatballs create a perfect Mediterranean-inspired meal that’s both flavorful and fun to assemble.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 100g breadcrumbs
- 50ml milk
- 400g beef or lamb mince
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- Small bunch of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 1 onion, coarsely grated
- 2 garlic cloves, finely grated
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Salad
- ½ cucumber, chopped into chunks
- 12 cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1 red onion, finely sliced
Sides
- Hummus
- Tzatziki
- 4 pittas
Instructions
- Prepare Breadcrumbs: Place the breadcrumbs in a bowl and pour over the milk. Let this mixture sit for 5 minutes or until the milk is fully absorbed, which will help keep the meatballs moist.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: Add the beef or lamb mince, egg, dried oregano, chopped parsley, grated onion, and garlic to the soaked breadcrumbs. Season generously with salt and pepper. Use your hands to mix all the ingredients thoroughly until well combined.
- Shape Meatballs: Form the mixture into meatballs slightly larger than cherry tomatoes. Aim to make about 24 meatballs. Cover the shaped meatballs and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up and develop flavors. They can be kept chilled for up to 24 hours if needed.
- Coat Meatballs in Flour: When ready to cook, pour the plain flour into a shallow bowl. Roll each meatball in the flour to evenly coat, which will give them a nice crust when fried.
- Fry Meatballs: Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the coated meatballs and cook for 10-12 minutes, turning regularly to brown all sides evenly and ensure they are cooked through.
- Prepare Salad and Sides: While the meatballs cook, combine the chopped cucumber, quartered cherry tomatoes, and sliced red onion to make a fresh salad. Toast the pittas in a toaster or on a dry pan.
- Serve: Arrange the cooked meatballs on a platter alongside the salad, bowls of hummus and tzatziki, and the toasted pittas. Allow everyone to assemble their own meatball kebabs by stuffing the pittas with meatballs, salad, and dips.
Notes
- You can substitute beef or lamb mince according to preference or availability.
- This mixture can be prepared a day in advance and refrigerated to save time.
- To ensure even cooking, roll the meatballs carefully in the flour and do not overcrowd the pan while frying.
- For a low-fat option, use lean mince and reduce the amount of olive oil used for frying.
- The meatballs can also be baked in the oven at 190°C (375°F) for about 15-20 minutes as an alternative cooking method.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: Meze, meatballs, Mediterranean, beef meatballs, lamb meatballs, hummus, tzatziki, pitta bread, easy dinner, quick recipe
