I love spices, I really do! In Greece there are small stores selling just spices and different kinds of nuts, their adorable! I like take a stroll in these places even if there is nothing I particularly need. It’s like opening the door to another world, full of aromas and stories, you feel calm and at ease.., think about it.. ‘Soutzoukakia’ is a dish so unique, the spices inside move your feelings and for sure speed smiles and warm feelings to those you taste it..

the recipe

ingredients

for the meatballs – ‘soutzoukakia’

• 300gr. minced meat (both pork and beef)
• 1 egg
• 1 medium onion
• 1 big garlic clove
• 2 slices of bread
• 4tbsp. olive oil
• 1 2/3 tsp. cumin powder
• 1/4tsp. cinnamon
• salt and black pepper
• sunflower oil and some flour for the frying

for the sauce

• 3 mature big tomatoes
• 2tbs. tomato paste
• 60ml. olive oil
• 1 medium onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 1/2tsp. cumin powder
• 1/2tsp. nutmeg
• 1 laurel leave
• 1/2tsp. sugar
• salt and black pepper

for the rice

• 200gr. wild rice (or any rice you prefer)
• water and some salt for boiling the rice

directions

In order to save time we begin with preparing the minced meat. While the minced meat ‘rests’ we prepare the red sauce and finally we fry the meatballs and boil the rice at the same time.

for the ‘soutzoukakia’ meatballs

• You put some water in the slices of the bread and you drain them well with your hands. You grate the bread into a big balls with your hands.
• In the same bowl you grate the onion and the garlic and then you add the minced meat and all the rest ingredients for it.
• You knead the mixture with your hands, cover with kitchen film and put in the fridge for at least 30′.
• When ready to fry, you preheat the sunflower oil in a deep pan till it gets hot.
• In the meantime, you take the bowl with the meat out of the fridge and divide the meat to 8-9 balls. You shape them with your hands lengthwise.
• Put in a plate some flour and cover the balls so that some of the flour sticks on the outside surface.
• Fry in hot temperature for 5′-6′ each side of the ball until they get a nice crispy and brown looks.
• Take them out to a plate which you have covered with kitchen paper to absorb the extra oil.

for the sauce

• Grate the onion and the garlics right into a big pot.
• Add the olive oil in the pot and warm it up in medium temperature.
• Meanwhile, wash the tomatoes, put them in the blender and smash them until you can a thick juice.
• Add the tomato juice in the pot and mix with a wooden big spoon. Add the tomato paste and the spices. Taste the sauce to see if there is anything more needed. Mix well and boil in medium fire with the pot uncovered for 15′-20′.

for the rice

• Boil a lot of water in a pot.
• Add some salt and the rice. Let it boil for 18′-25′ depending on the rice you will use. You can check also the boiling time indications on the rice package. Either you should have a lot of water in the pot so that the rice will boil for sure.
• When the rice is ready drain well and keep aside.

coming together..

• When all parts of the recipe are ready, put the meatballs in the pot with the red sauce and carefully mix so that the balls do not break.
• Serve putting the rice as base into a plate. Add above it the meatballs and extra sauce so that it covers also part of the rice and..

Enjoy!

Tip!

• You can add in the sauce extra cinnamon (1/3tsp.) if you want to have more aroma in your food!
• You can prepare the rice also without draining the water. However, if you make a simple water-boiled drained rice sou will make a lighter version of the recipe and with less preparation time!