This is a soulful dish: handmade meatball sausages subtly seasoned with onion, garlic, cumin, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg and baked in a bubbling tomato sauce. It was originally made by Greeks who lived in Smyrna, which is now Izmir, Turkey. In the early 1920s many of them returned to Greece after the Greco-Turkish war.
Provided by Elaine Louie
Categories meatballs, main course
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 25
Steps:
- For the sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, heat olive oil and sauté onion until soft. Stir in garlic. Add tomatoes and their juice, squeezing tomatoes to break them up. Bring to a boil. Add wine and sugar, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer until thickened, about 20 minutes. Add pepper flakes and butter, simmer 1 to 2 minutes, and set aside until needed. (Sauce may be cooled, covered and refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Reheat before using.)
- For the sausages: Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, onion, garlic, cumin, paprika, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Knead until blended. Add egg and wine, and knead again until well mixed. Add just enough bread crumbs to give body to mixture so that meatballs will hold their shape when formed. Mix in enough extra-virgin olive oil to make mixture glossy and elastic.
- Shape meat mixture into sausages about 2 1/2 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. Dredge in flour and set aside. Place a heavy skillet over medium heat, and add about 1/2 inch olive oil. When oil shimmers, add sausages in a single layer. Brown on one side, then turn and brown the other. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
- Lightly oil an 8-by-10-inch shallow casserole, or other baking dish in which sausages will fit in a single layer. Pour sauce evenly on top of meat, and bake until lightly browned on top, about 40 minutes. If desired, serve with mashed potatoes.
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MDSHOPON KHAN
[email protected]I wasn't sure how these meatballs would turn out, but I was pleasantly surprised. They were so moist and flavorful, and the tomato sauce was delicious. I will definitely be making these again.
nate wheeler
[email protected]These meatballs are so easy to make, and they're always a crowd-pleaser. I love that I can make them ahead of time and just pop them in the oven when I'm ready to serve.
Tshidiso Mogapi
[email protected]I've made this dish several times now, and it's always a hit with my family and friends. The meatballs are so flavorful and juicy, and the tomato sauce is the perfect complement. I highly recommend this recipe.
Calton Chigawa
[email protected]This dish is a must-try for meatball lovers! The meatballs are packed with flavor, and the tomato sauce is rich and tangy. I served it with mashed potatoes and a side of green beans, and it was a perfect meal.
Md Sayam
[email protected]The meatballs were a bit dry, but the tomato sauce was delicious. I think I would add more liquid to the meatballs next time.
Bhupendra kr Kushwaha
[email protected]This dish was a bit too spicy for my taste, but my husband loved it. He said the meatballs were very flavorful and the tomato sauce was perfect. I think I would try it again with less chili powder next time.
ahmad XMAX plus
[email protected]I'm not a huge fan of meatballs, but these were really good! The spices in the meatballs were perfect, and the tomato sauce was delicious. I would definitely make these again.
RKG DEADSHOT
[email protected]These meatballs were delicious! I used a mixture of ground beef and pork, and the meatballs were so moist and flavorful. The tomato sauce was also very good. I will definitely be making this dish again.
Alex Alabi
[email protected]This dish was amazing! The meatballs were so moist and flavorful, and the tomato sauce was perfect. I served it with rice and a side of tzatziki sauce, and it was a perfect meal.
peter githehu
[email protected]The meatballs were a bit dry, but the tomato sauce was delicious. I think I would add more liquid to the meatballs next time.
Juan Aranda
[email protected]This dish was a bit too spicy for my taste, but my husband loved it. He said the meatballs were very flavorful and the tomato sauce was perfect. I think I would try it again with less chili powder next time.
Bijoy Dutta
[email protected]I'm not a huge fan of meatballs, but these were really good! The spices in the meatballs were perfect, and the tomato sauce was delicious. I would definitely make these again.
nida Khan
[email protected]These meatballs were so easy to make, and they turned out so well! I used ground beef and pork, and the combination was perfect. The tomato sauce was also very flavorful. I will definitely be making this dish again.
Thando Makhubo
[email protected]Soutzoukakia Smyrneika was a hit at my dinner party! The meatballs were moist and flavorful, and the tomato sauce was tangy and delicious. I served it with rice and a side of tzatziki sauce, and it was a perfect meal.