Description
These Greek-Inspired Meatballs offer a flavorful blend of ground lamb or beef with fresh herbs, spices, and lemon zest, cooked to perfection on the stovetop. Ideal for a quick and satisfying Mediterranean meal, they pair beautifully with tzatziki, warm pita, or a fresh Greek salad.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Mixture
- 1 pound ground lamb or beef (or a mix)
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated red onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 egg
- Zest of 1 lemon
For Cooking
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, grated red onion, minced garlic, chopped parsley, mint, dried oregano, ground cumin, salt, pepper, egg, and lemon zest. Mix gently with your hands until just combined, being careful not to overmix to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form Meatballs: Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and arrange them on a plate or tray, ready for cooking.
- Cook Meatballs: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs in batches, cooking them for 8–10 minutes total. Turn occasionally to ensure all sides brown evenly and the meatballs are cooked through.
- Serve: Serve the meatballs warm, ideally accompanied by tzatziki sauce, warm pita bread, or a fresh Greek salad to complete the Mediterranean experience.
Notes
- For a lighter cooking method, bake the meatballs at 400°F (200°C) for 18–20 minutes instead of pan-frying.
- You can prepare the meatballs ahead of time by shaping and refrigerating the raw meatballs for up to 24 hours before cooking.
- Cooked meatballs freeze well, making them convenient for quick meals later.
