Inaja & Scott's Recipes
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Tender Mediterranean-spiced beef meatballs made with Greek yogurt and farofa to keep lean 93/7 ground beef moist. Serves about 20-22 medium meatballs, best served with hummus, Greek salad, and warm pita.
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Ingredients (one per line)
1.33 lb 93/7 ground beef 1/2 cup very finely grated or minced onion 4 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley 3 tbsp finely chopped fresh mint 1 1/3 tsp dried oregano 1 1/3 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander 2/3 tsp paprika, sweet or smoked 1 1/4 tsp kosher salt 2/3 tsp black pepper Zest of about 2/3 of a lemon 1 large egg 1/4 cup farofa (4 tbsp) 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt 1 tbsp olive oil Optional: 1/3 tsp red pepper flakes Optional but recommended: 2/3 tsp sumac 1 tbsp olive oil for browning Fresh lemon juice for finishing
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Steps (one per line)
In a large bowl, combine onion, garlic, egg, farofa, Greek yogurt, olive oil, herbs, spices, and lemon zest, mixing thoroughly and letting sit for about 5 minutes to allow the farofa to hydrate. Add the ground beef and gently mix everything together with your hands until the mixture is reasonably uniform, being careful not to overwork the lean beef. Form the mixture into approximately 1½-inch golf-ball-sized meatballs, aiming for about 20–22 total, rolling gently without packing them tightly. Refrigerate the meatballs for 15–30 minutes if convenient before cooking. Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, add about 1 tbsp olive oil, and once hot, add the meatballs without crowding the pan (working in batches if necessary). Brown the meatballs for approximately 5–6 minutes, turning every minute or two to develop a dark crust on several sides. Transfer the meatballs to a 400°F oven and cook for approximately 5–8 minutes, pulling them once the centers reach 158–160°F (they will carry over slightly while resting). Let the meatballs rest for about 3–5 minutes. Right before serving, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the meatballs, sprinkle with chopped parsley or mint, add sumac if available, and optionally drizzle with good olive oil.
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