Keftedes
A fuss-free Greek beef built around ground beef or lamb, breadcrumbs and fresh mint — roughly 65 minutes start to finish, and rated medium to make. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 6 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and pan. At medium difficulty across 6 steps, it's manageable with a little attention.
What you'll need
Shopping list (4)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: contains meat, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Gluten Egg
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Grate the onion finely and squeeze out excess liquid, then combine it in a large bowl with the ground meat, crushed garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, chopped mint and parsley, oregano, vinegar, salt and pepper.
- Knead the mixture with your hands for a couple of minutes until well blended and slightly tacky, then cover and chill for at least 30 minutes so the flavours meld and the mix firms up.
- With damp hands, roll the mixture into walnut-sized balls and flatten each one very slightly, then dust them lightly all over with flour and tap off the excess.
- Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering, then fry the meatballs in batches without crowding, turning so they brown evenly on all sides.
- Cook for about 8 to 10 minutes total until deeply golden and cooked through to 71C (160F) in the centre with no pink remaining.
- Drain briefly on paper towels and serve hot with lemon wedges and tzatziki, or at room temperature as part of a meze spread.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Pan · Blender
Ingredient substitutions
- Red Wine
- beef stock + 1 tsp red wine vinegar · grape juice + vinegar
What to serve with Keftedes
- Garides Saganaki Seafood
- Honey Yogurt Cheesecake Dessert
- Stuffed Lamb Tomatoes Lamb
- Lamb and Lemon Souvlaki Lamb
Tips & common questions
How long does Keftedes take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 13 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of red wine?
Try beef stock + 1 tsp red wine vinegar. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
How should I store leftovers?
Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.
Related recipes
Original recipe — developed in-house by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Keftedes is an original Greek recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Tomato keftedes.jpg by ArticCynda, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.