Keftedes (Greek Meatballs)
Greek keftedes are herb-packed meatballs with mince, breadcrumbs, egg, mint, parsley, oregano, cumin, and a lemon finish.
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53 mintotal
38 min hands-on15 min hands-off
Prep 20 min · Cook 18 min
- Serves
- 2
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spice
- Mild
Ingredients
Quantities are for 2 servings.
You'll need: Stovetop.
Includes 15 minutes of resting time for the meatball mixture so the breadcrumbs absorb moisture before shaping.
Method
Add the mutton mince, breadcrumbs, egg, grated onion, garlic, mint, parsley, oregano, cumin, salt, and black pepper to a bowl.
Mix gently until combined, without kneading too hard.
Rest the mixture for 15 minutes so the breadcrumbs absorb moisture.
15 min
Shape into small meatballs and dust them lightly with all-purpose flour.
Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
Pan-fry the meatballs, turning often, until evenly browned and cooked through.
Drain briefly on a plate and finish with lemon juice before serving.
How to tell it's done
The meatballs should be browned outside, juicy inside, and firm enough to hold their shape.
Getting it right
Tip
Mix the mince gently; overworking it makes meatballs dense instead of tender.
What to serve it with
Serve with tzatziki, lemon wedges, Greek salad, or warm flatbread.
Common mistakes
- The meatballs become dense or break in the pan.
- Mix gently, let the mixture rest, dust lightly with flour, and turn the meatballs only after they brown.
Substitutions
- Use ground lamb where available; Mutton Mince is the closest Reciplan master ingredient match.
- Use extra parsley if mint is unavailable, though the flavor will be less bright.
- Use fresh breadcrumbs if dry breadcrumbs are not available, but reduce onion moisture slightly.
Storing and reheating
Refrigerate cooked keftedes for up to 3 days. Reheat in a pan or oven; freeze cooked meatballs for up to 2 months.





