Traditional Soutzoukakia

Enjoy fooodlove’s Soutzoukakia recipe - spiced beef meatballs in rich tomato sauce. Also known as Soutzoukakia Smyrneika, İzmir Köfte or Smyrna meatballs.
what you'll need
  • 500 g beef mince
  • 1 onion (grated)
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 50 g breadcrumbs
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ⅓ tsp pepper
  • 60 ml red wine
  • vegetable oil for frying
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion (finely chopped)
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 500 g tomato sauce
  • 4 fresh tomatoes grated
  • ½ tsp cinnamon (or one stick)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cumin
View ingredients
step 1

Add the beef mince, onion, garlic, olive oil, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper and cumin in a bowl and mix until combined.
step 2

Shape the mixture in long “sausage-shaped” meatballs and refrigirate for 15-20 minutes so they can get firm.
step 3

Add vegetable oil in a nonstick pan (enough to cover the entire surface) and fry them in medium heat, (approx. 5 minutes).
step 4

Once they are cooked on all sides, add the red wine, let them simmer until it evaporates and set them aside.
step 5

Tomato Sauce: On the same pan add the olive oil, onion and garlic, and sauté them in medium heat (approx 3-4 minutes).
step 6

Add the tomato sauce, the fresh tomato, cinnamon, salt, cumin and water and simmer for 10 minutes in low heat.
step 7

Once the sauce is ready, transfer it in an ovenproof dish, add the soutzoukakia and bake in a preheated oven at 190ºC (375ºF) for 30 minutes.

Traditional Soutzoukakia

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