‘’Keftedes’’ a crispy, juicy and delicious Cyprus dish! 
 Give this traditional Keftedes (Cyprus Meatballs) recipe a try and add a Mediterranean twist to your plate! Keftedes is a famous Cyprus appetizer, commonly served as part of a meze platter, with some creamy tzatziki sauce and pita bread. Keftedes can also be served as a main meal with some tomato bulgar wheat pilaf and a nice Greek salad. 

·         9 medium potatoes finely grated and drained

·         1kg pork lean minced meat

·         3 tbsp chopped mint 

·         3 tbsp chopped parsley

·         2 tsp dried mint

·         1 tsp cinnamon

·         1 big onion finely grated

·         1 egg

·         salt/pepper

·         3 slices stale bread or 1 cup natural breadcrumbs

·         sunflower oil for frying

In a large bowl, add the grated and drained potatoes, onion, egg, minced meat, dried and fresh mint, parsley, salt and pepper and cinnamon.

Soak the stale bread in some water for 10 minutes until nice and soft, drain it with your hands squeezing all the excess water and shred it in the meat mixture.
 

Mix the meatballs mixture with your hands for 5 minutes. Make sure all ingredients have incorporated and there are no big lumps of potatoes or meat stuck together. You are looking for the consistency to be like that of a beef burger mix.

Shape the keftedes in small balls or in the traditional shape which is oblong (see the picture above) until all the mix is used.

Heat the oil in a deep saucepan. The oil is ready when it starts having bubbles but not bubbling. Slowly add the keftedes in one by one being extra careful. 

Reduce the heat to low and fry them for 10 more minutes or until they are nicely golden brown. When they are fried, remove from the oil using a spatula and place them in a plate lined with kitchen paper. This is to drain any excess oil. Keep doing this until all mix is used.

·         Use ”proper” bread and by proper I mean sourdough bread and not sliced. It helps the keftedes be more fluffy and light! 

·         Always squeeze some lemon on top before eating!

-with Greek yogurt and tomato rice

-tomato bulgar wheat pilaf

-Greek salad

-lettuce salad with vinegar and olive oil