This Greek meatball dish has to be one of my dad’s favourites and now that I’m adult, it’s one of mine.
Keftedes are a Greek meatball/burger and although the spices and herbs may vary from home to home, it’s basically of ground mince, grated onion, soaked bread and spices.
This dish falls in the Manestra category of Greek dishes. It’s culinary cousin is a Giouvestsi (which is done in the oven) but here, everything’s done on the stovetop. Some folks like a thick sauce, others a little soupier. Some folks like orzo, here we use Kofta Makaronia (Ditalini). The dish is often made with braised poultry, lamb or veal.
I’ve always been a big fan of dishes that are “so simple yet taste so great”. This is another such dish.
Manestra With Keftedes and Kofta Makaronia
Keftedes recipe
2 lbs. of lean ground beef
1 onion, grated
2 slices of white bread (soaked in water or milk, then squeezed of liquid)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. dried oregano
1 egg, beaten
salt & pepper to taste
1/4 cup olive oil
flour for dusting
3 cups of chicken or beef boullion
1 medium onion, diced
1 sweet banana pepper, fine dice
1 cup of tomato passata
500 gr.of kofta makaronia (ditalini)
salt and pepper to taste
grated Kefalotyri cheese
- In a bowl, mix all of your Keftedes ingredients with your hands. Your mixture should stick and easily form meatballs. Adjust with some oil if too dry, add some more soaked bread if too wet. Fry-off or microwave a small meatball to taste-test. Adjust seasoning according to taste. Form into palm-sized meatballs and then flatten into patties. Dust in flour and reserve.
- In a large pot, add your olive oil to medium-high heat and brown your keftedes in batches, reserve.
- In the same pot, add some stock and scrape up the brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Add your onions and peppers and saute for 5-7 minutes to soften.
- Pour in the tomato sauce, your remaining stock, keftedes and pasta and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 30-40 minutes or until you’ve reached your sauce’s desired consistency. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper and serve with grated Kefalotyri cheese (Romano).
52 Responses
Peter this is right up my alley! I love simple comfort food that tastes amazing. The next time I am craving bolognese I will have to make this instead.
Yummmm I love meatballs. This looks fantastic with that pasta.
Oh yes, Peter now we’re talking. I am a great meatball fan especially if done on the stove top, almost like slow braising…
Oh yes, Peter now we’re talking. I am a great meatball fan especially if done on the stove top, almost like slow braising…
Oh yes, Peter now we’re talking. I am a great meatball fan especially if done on the stove top, almost like slow braising…
Oh yes, Peter now we’re talking. I am a great meatball fan especially if done on the stove top, almost like slow braising…
Oh yes, Peter now we’re talking. I am a great meatball fan especially if done on the stove top, almost like slow braising…
Oh yes, Peter now we’re talking. I am a great meatball fan especially if done on the stove top, almost like slow braising…
Oh yes, Peter now we’re talking. I am a great meatball fan especially if done on the stove top, almost like slow braising…
Oh yes, Peter now we’re talking. I am a great meatball fan especially if done on the stove top, almost like slow braising…
Oh yes, Peter now we’re talking. I am a great meatball fan especially if done on the stove top, almost like slow braising…
Yum, yum, yum! Meatballs and pasta! I love it! Fast and esy too by the look of it.
Aaaahh!..Manestra…another favourite for me as well. I love the “giouvetsi” version in the oven with any kind of meat. True comfort food!
Wow. That looks really effing good. You can’t get that out of a box, that’s for sure.
This time I knew what Keftedes was. When we make meatballs, in Quebec, we serve them with gravy and mashed potatoes. It’s a traditional dish during the holidays.
Peter – This is soooo way above meatballs and spaghetti! I love the idea of cooking the pasta right in the sauce – genius!
Wow! This looks really great! I could definitely get into it! Well done!
Wonderful! I love meatbalss, so that has my taste buds doing a merry dance. I made mushroom balls, then discovered a Greek recipe for them that I must try.
That does look simple and tasty.
TO AGAPIMENO MOU……
FILIA POLLA POLLA APO THN ELLADA!!!!
8A ER8EIS TO KALOKAIRI NA BOLTAROUME STA NHSIA????
Kalimera
Panta me wraia piata,wraies ellinikes geyseis.
Se perimenoume sto blog mas gia mousikes.
Ahh Peter! I love meatballs myself. Those look absolutely huge and lovely. Reminds me of the sort I used to get in a Greek Deli when I was at Uni in Australia. Superb stuff!
I love meatballs in any shape or form and if they’re Greek even better! I’ll give you some of my orzo salad if I can come round next time you make these!
Kat, you’ll love this dish…set it & forget it and nurse that bottle of wine!
Marc, it’s all gone.
Nina, exactly…it’s a braise.
Ferdzy, easy-peasy, tasty!
Pete, I love both the giouvetsi and manestra…depends on my mood.
LOL @ Heather…Kraft can’t pull off this stuff!
Helene, I hope you show us more Quebecois cuisine.
Toni, glad you’re taken by this dish, I hope you’ll try it.
Sticky, this SO hit the spot last night.
Kevin, more tasty than simple!
Axx Zaxaroula…I’ll be in Greece from August to early Sept., email me for details.
Geia sou Mario kai efharisto poli!
Dharm, glad to have triggered a fond memory for you!
Sylvie,that sounds like a deal!
Wow Peter . This dish looks great. Reminds a Italian dish with Polpeta di Carne, but with most flavor and spicy
I’ve been eating less meat lately, but I’d break out real fast for those meatballs~you’re recipe sounds perfect and I’m sure renders a perfectly tender meatball. Love that kinda pasta too-the ditalini looks slightly larger than I’ve seen be4 + very tasty.
A amnly dish for the Boner Man. Seriously this looks damn good.My CS loves his meatballs too.
mmmm… pasta and meatballs – what’s not to like! Simple often is better obviously :)
I know you don’t really do this sort of this, but I’ve passed on the Arte y Pico award to you :)
Peter that look really tasty and wonderful! Gloria
A hearty and tasty dish! Easy to make, tasty, and filling… what more can anybody want? Well done, Peter!
Sylvia, many Greek & Italian dishes are similar and I love all Mediterranean food.
T-memory, what’s a few meatballs in the diet, eh? As for ditalini, they come in various sizes.
Ahhh Glam, you inspire the bone in this man! lol
Kittie, the KISS principle is firmly in place here and…TA for your kind award.
Gloria, thanks for dropping by…I’ll be at your site soon!
Sam, all I want is a Greek beach, calm and my health.
It’s so Italian like! haha I love it! Hey, I watched “MY Big Fat Greek Wedding” last night and thought of you! It’s such a fun film.I like when the father introduces his family..”There’s Nick, and Nick, and over there is Nick etc”
I feel like diving a fork into this dish right now, Pete. And I don’t even eat beef. :)
That looks yummy, Have bookmarked it, Thnx for sharing Peter!
http://www.zaiqa.net
Ok…this is being fit into our weekend menu. Would you believe I never make any type of meatball on a recurring basis? I just never think of them, but this, this looks so darn appetizing.
I love the meatballs or anything Greek. The perfect comfort food to enjoy with the family. Very nice!
I just adore meatballs and these look pure comfort food and so very appetising!
Looks really tasty – I’ve missed your blog while I was away!
Beautiful! I’ve never met a meatball I didn’t love. I might bake these instead of fry them.
Too funny, I had meatballs last night for dinner, but mine do not sound as good as yours! And using that little pasta looks better than speghetti! Must give this a try!
Maryann, I love when the Greek mom replies about the future in-laws being vegetarian…”It’s OK, we’re eating lamb”! lol
Aw Patricia, it’s time to hop on the beef bandwagon.
Mona, you’re very welcome, enjoy!
Sandie, think of meatballs like sausages…the possibilities are endless.
Chuck, thanks for a resounding YES to Greek food!
Rosie, as comforting as Linus’ blue blanket.
Jan, no worries…welcome back.
Lydia, I sometimes bake meatballs too.
Deb, I’m on a mince meat kick of late.
What’s tomato passata? And a banana pepper? What’s that?
Those noodles look HUGE (is it the picture?) This looks like quite the comforting meal.
Lori, passata is Italian. Think a can of plum tomatoes that have been pureed then strained…thick.
As for the pasta, they are fingernail sized…it’s the deceiving photo!
This sounds like total comfort food! What a great dish! =D
i need some comforting after a badddd meeting…courier this over plzzzz……T_T
Peterrrrr! What time should I be at your place for dinner? I’ll bring the mousse!
This looks absolutely fab – very hearty. I assume that the fat pasta is the ditalini? Sweet banana pepper is a new one! I’m sure that Safeway won’t stock it.
This is such a complete dish with your cute makaronia surrounding the meatballs!
Shandy, it was gobbled up in no time.
Rita, have a bowl of this…to cheer you up!
Nikki, you’re welcome anytime..no invite needed.
Cake, yes..that’s the ditalini.
Nuria, cute makaronia it is!
Oooh, I love manestra and I love keftedes, but I have (obviously stupidly!) never thought to combine them. So noted :)
What I especially love in this dish is the proportions – the size of the meatballs and the shape of the pasta. This is an extraordinary combination.
Fantastic dish! I’ve just discovered your blog recently & I love that you include all these dishes that we greeks just eat at home all the time…