Cypriot Meatballs – “Soutzoukakia”

Meatballs infused with wine, cumin and garlic, sound good? This recipe is my favorite meat dish I have ever had in my life, aside from my papou’s (grandpa’s) famous shish kabobs. These meatballs, or like they call them in Cyprus, “Soutzoukakia” are one of the many traditional dishes cooked during the winter months. The recipe has been handed down from generation to generation through my mother’s family, and has now reached me. What can I say; if I could I would eat this every day for the rest of my life. 

Usually, when there is a Greek family gathering, there are platters upon platters of food to choose from; soutzoukakia is one of the dishes commonly included. Every time we cook this, it feels like someone is coming over, because my mom would always cook this as one of the dishes to serve to our friends. Comfort food doesn’t begin to describe this. This is a Greek, delicious, warming, and filling dish that will certainly leave you begging for more. 

The Meatballs:

1 ½ lbs Ground Beef or lamb

1 egg

1 ½ tsp Ground cumin

½ cup onions

¼ cup Chopped parsley

2-3 cloves minced garlic

Salt and pepper

½ cup Panko breadcrumbs

¼ cup of red wine

The Sauce (use your favorite sauce and add cumin and wine):  about 2-3 
cups

Procedure:

Cook the sauce adding all of the ingredients in a pot and the cumin and wine. Let it simmer until the ingredients are all incorporated, and turn heat on low until the meatballs are cooked.

To make the meatballs, take the ground beef and add all of the ingredients and mix together. Use hands to make sure the ingredients are well incorporated. 

Once the meatball mixture is mixed together, take a spoon and begin to make small round balls (about an inch in diameter).  Take an iron skillet (or just a normal pan if you don’t have one) and drizzle olive oil to cook meat balls. Place them in the skillet, and brown both sides.

After they are browned, place them in the sauce to simmer for an hour and become tender and delicious.

Serve the meatballs over orzo, rice or mashed potatoes. This is a great meal to have in the cold winter weather and I hope you and your families will enjoy it.