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Kefta (Eastern Mediterranean Meatballs)
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Cuisine: Appetizer Mediterranean
What Can I Bring?
Perfect for: Cocktail parties, sports-watching gatherings around the TV.
Make and take: Saute and skewer, then arrange in a baking dish and cover with foil to transport. At your destination, finish cooking the meatballs in the oven.
Made famous by: Moshile "Mo" Rafeedie, president of Rafeedie's Catering & Events in Atlanta. "Handmade hors d'oeuvres have been a trademark of Rafeedie's Catering & Events for 21 years, " he said. This recipe is a favorite at cocktail parties, he said.
Tip: The elliptical shape of these meatballs makes them perfect for football-themed parties.
Hands on time: 30 minutes Total time: 50 minutes Serves: 4
Ingredients:
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2 1/2 pounds ground lamb or ground sirloin beef
2 large bunches fresh parsley, finely chopped
1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
1/4 cup tahini
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix ground meat, parsley, onion, cinnamon, allspice, salt and pepper with your hands. Form into 20 elliptical shapes, like footballs.
If you have a stovetop grill, skewer the meatballs end to end on wooden skewers and grill until brown. Alternately, before skewering, brown the meatballs in a large saute pan over medium-high heat, and then skewer.
Transfer the skewered meatballs to a baking pan. Bake in oven until just cooked through, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Serve with tahini sauce: In a small bowl, combine the tahini, lemon juice and yogurt.
If you have a stovetop grill, skewer the meatballs end to end on wooden skewers and grill until brown. Alternately, before skewering, brown the meatballs in a large saute pan over medium-high heat, and then skewer.
Transfer the skewered meatballs to a baking pan. Bake in oven until just cooked through, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Serve with tahini sauce: In a small bowl, combine the tahini, lemon juice and yogurt.
Notes:
This makes about 20 meatballs.
Allspice and cinnamon add just a hint of something exotic to these seasoned meatballs. Tahini, a paste made from ground sesame seeds, is available in most grocery stores.
Allspice and cinnamon add just a hint of something exotic to these seasoned meatballs. Tahini, a paste made from ground sesame seeds, is available in most grocery stores.
Nutrition:
Per meatball: 183 calories (percent of calories from fat, 74), 10 grams protein, 2 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 15 grams fat (6 grams saturated), 42 milligrams cholesterol, 95 milligrams sodium.
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