Greek Soutzoukakia with Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• ½ medium onion, finely minced
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes
• ½ cup red wine
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. 1

   Mix ground beef, minced onion, breadcrumbs, cumin, cinnamon, oregano, 1 tsp salt, and 0.5 tsp pepper in a bowl until just combined.

2. 2

   Roll mixture into 12 oval meatballs, roughly 2 inches long.

3. 3

   Heat olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 90 seconds.

4. 4

   Brown meatballs in two batches without moving them, 2 minutes per side until golden. Don't crowd the pan.

5. 5

   Pour red wine into the pan, scraping up browned bits. Simmer until reduced by half, about 2 minutes.

6. 6

   Add crushed tomatoes and 0.5 tsp salt. Return meatballs to the pan and stir gently.

7. 7

   Reduce heat to low, cover partially, and simmer 25–30 minutes until sauce thickens and flavors meld.

8. 8

   Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Serve over rice, with crusty bread, or as-is with a squeeze of lemon.

Tools you’ll need

• large mixing bowl
• 12-inch skillet with lid
• wooden spoon
• meat thermometer (optional)

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