Greek porcupine meatballs, also known as youvarlakia, are a classic Greek dish that combines savory ground meat, fluffy rice, and flavorful spices. This delightful dish is a symphony of textures and flavors, with tender, juicy meatballs that burst with a harmonious blend of herbs and spices. Immersed in a rich, velvety tomato sauce, these meatballs create a comforting and wholesome meal that is sure to satisfy even the most discerning palate. Whether served as an appetizer, a main course, or part of a traditional Greek feast, Greek porcupine meatballs are guaranteed to transport you to the heart of Mediterranean culinary tradition.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CLASSIC PORCUPINE MEATBALLS
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with the rice, water, chopped onion, seasoned salt, garlic powder, and pepper.
- Shape the ground beef mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls. Use a tablespoon or small cookie scoop to help make them uniform in size. (Or you can weigh them as you shape them.) Place them in an ungreased 2-quart shallow baking dish.
- Make the sauce by mixing together the tomato sauce, water, and Worcestershire sauce in a measuring cup or bowl.
- Now it's time to cook the meatballs. Continue reading for the oven method, or scroll down to the stovetop method.
- Pour the sauce over the porcupine meatballs, cover the baking dish tightly with foil, and bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 55 minutes.
- Uncover and bake the meatballs 15 to 20 minutes longer, until bubbling and cooked through. Serve and enjoy.
- Add about 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to a large deep skillet over medium heat.
- Add the shaped meatballs and cook, turning, until the meatballs are evenly browned. Drain and discard the drippings.
- Add the tomato sauce ingredients to the skillet and bring the mixture to a simmer. Lower the heat and cover the pan. Continue cooking for about 45 minutes. Check occasionally and add water, if necessary. Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 309 kcal, Carbohydrate 11 g, Cholesterol 101 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 34 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 736 mg, Sugar 3 g, Fat 14 g, ServingSize 6 servings, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
PORCUPINE MEATBALLS III
These tangy meatballs are fun to make, and kids love them!
Provided by DKOSKO
Categories Main Dish Recipes Meatball Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large bowl, thoroughly mix 1/4 cup of the tomato soup with the ground beef, rice, egg, onion and salt. Firmly shape into 16 meatballs.
- In a small bowl, mix remaining tomato soup with a half soup can of water and the mustard.
- Melt the shortening in a large skillet over medium heat. Place garlic and meatballs in the skillet. Cook, gently stirring, until evenly browned; drain. Pour tomato soup and mustard mixture over the meatballs and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 457.6 calories, Carbohydrate 33.2 g, Cholesterol 122.4 mg, Fat 24.3 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 25.7 g, SaturatedFat 8.2 g, Sodium 1090.7 mg, Sugar 6 g
GREEK PORK MEATBALLS
Studded with feta cheese and seasoned with lemon pepper seasoning and oregano, these oven-baked meatballs are zesty and quick to make. For a perfect appetizer, serve with easy tzatziki dipping sauce, or try stuffing them into pita bread for an outstanding weeknight meal.
Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 30m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 400°F. Line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil. Spray with cooking spray.
- In large bowl, mix Meatball ingredients until well combined. Using rounded tablespoon measure, shape 20 (1 1/2-inch) meatballs; place in pan. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until no longer pink in center (at least 165°F).
- Meanwhile, add yoghurt to small bowl. Place cucumber in center of paper towel, and gently squeeze to remove water. Add cucumber, dill weed, lemon juice and salt to yoghurt; stir to combine. Refrigerate sauce until ready to serve with meatballs.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 390, Carbohydrate 16 g, Cholesterol 140 mg, Fat 1/2, Fiber 0 g, Protein 28 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 470 mg, Sugar 5 g, TransFat 0 g
PORCUPINE MEATBALLS
These well-seasoned porcupine meatballs in a rich tomato sauce are one of my mom's best main dishes. I used to love this meal when I was growing up. I made it at home for our children, and now my daughters make it for their families. -Darlis Wilfer, West Bend, Wisconsin
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h20m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. Add beef and mix well. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls. In a large skillet, brown meatballs in oil; drain. Combine tomato sauce, water, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce; pour over meatballs. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 421 calories, Fat 21g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 70mg cholesterol, Sodium 1317mg sodium, Carbohydrate 34g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 24g protein.
GREEK PORCUPINE MEATBALLS
Not your traditional porcupine meatball in the slightest! A fresh combination of flavors, simmered in chicken broth and served with a delicious lemon sauce. One of my favorite meatball recipes.
Provided by anonymous
Categories Meat
Time 25m
Yield 16 small meatballs, 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Finely chop parsley to equal 1/2 cup and mint to equal 2 tablespoons. Place in a large bowl with meat, egg whites, rice, crumbs, salt and 2 tablespoons of water. Blend well. Shape mixture into a 1.5 inch thick square, cut into 16 pieces and roll each into a ball.
- In a small bowl, blend cornstarch with 3/4 cup water. Place in a large skillet over medium heat with chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Add meatballs and cook, covered, for 15 minutes, turning meatballs occasionally. Remove meatballs to a serving dish and keep warm. Reduce heat to low.
- Squeeze lemon to yield 2-3 tablespoons of juice. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks with lemon juice. Stirring constantly, add 3 tablespoons of the hot broth to the yolk mixture. Gradually add back to the skillet, stirring constantly. (NOTE - do NOT skip this step; it tempers your egg yolks so that you don't end up with scrambled eggs in your sauce!).
- Simmer for 2 minutes or until sauce thickens; do not boil. Pour over meatballs and serve immediately.
GREEK PORK MEATBALLS: PORK KEFTEDES
The secret to great, juicy keftedes is to make the mixture as loose as possible, but still dense enough that the little meatballs will hold their shape when fried. It is common practice in various parts of Greece to add grated tomato or milk, or both, to the mixture. The liquid adds the requisite moisture to the meat and changes its color so that the finished keftedes have a light, pinkish tint when broken apart. Frying the meatballs has its tricks, too. You actually don't need that much oil for this recipe, as the keftedes are pan-fried, not deep-fried. What you will need is to pay attention to the oil. It should not be so hot that the keftedes burn on the outside but remain undercooked within.
Provided by Food Network
Categories appetizer
Time 1h30m
Yield 30 to 35 keftedes
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Combine the ground pork and onion in a mixing bowl. Add the tomato, mint, salt, and pepper, and knead well for 3 minutes to combine. Pour in the milk and continue kneading until the liquid is completely absorbed. If the mixture is so loose that the keftedes do not retain their shape, add a few tablespoonfuls of plain fine bread crumb. Cover the mixing bowl and refrigerate the mixture for at least 1 hour or up to 6 hours, so that the flavors meld.
- To form, season the flour with salt and pepper, and spread out on a large plate. Have a second, clean plate ready. Take a tablespoonful at a time of the meat mixture and form into a small ball, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Roll in the flour and shake in the palm of your hand to remove the excess flour. Place the dredged meatball on the clean plate. Continue with the remaining mixture until all the meatballs are shaped.
- To fry, heat about 1-inch of olive oil or other oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Using a tablespoon or small spatula, gently place as many meatballs as will fit in the pan without crowding. Fry them, turning once or twice so that all sides are browned. Remove, drain slightly on paper towels, and serve, either hot or at room temperature. The meatballs may be made several hours ahead and stored, covered, at room temperature.
PORCUPINE MEATBALLS
Make and share this Porcupine Meatballs recipe from Food.com.
Provided by ThatJodiGirl
Categories Meat
Time 50m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Lightly beat egg with a fork, then add a heaping tablespoon of the soup and mix lightly.
- Mix in rice, onion, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Stir in the ground beef and mix well with hands.
- Form mixture into 1 1/2 inch round meatballs.
- Coat a large skillet over medium heat with oil.
- Cook meatballs and brown on all sides.
- Combine remaining soup with Worcestershire (you can increase or decrease Worcestershire to your liking) Stir until smooth, then spoon over meatballs.
- Cover with lid and simmer for 20-30 minutes , stirring every few minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 480.7, Fat 25.9, SaturatedFat 8.2, Cholesterol 130, Sodium 1245.1, Carbohydrate 35, Fiber 1.9, Sugar 9, Protein 26.4
Tips:
- Choose high-quality ground beef for the meatballs. A blend of chuck and sirloin works well.
- Soak the rice in water for 30 minutes before cooking. This will help it cook evenly and prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Use a large pot to cook the meatballs in. This will give them plenty of room to brown and cook through.
- Brown the meatballs in batches. Don't overcrowd the pot, or they will steam instead of brown.
- Use a combination of tomato sauce and beef broth for the sauce. This will give it a rich and flavorful taste.
- Add some chopped vegetables to the sauce, such as onions, carrots, and celery. This will add flavor and texture.
- Simmer the meatballs in the sauce for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld and the meatballs to become tender.
- Serve the meatballs over rice or pasta. You can also serve them with a side of bread or vegetables.
Conclusion:
Greek porcupine meatballs are a delicious and versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, main course, or side dish. They are easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. Serve them over rice, pasta, or your favorite side dish. With their unique combination of flavors and textures, they are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them.
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