Beef Keftedes - Greek Grilled Meat

These are like Chevapcici or other grilled street meats served all over the Mediterranean. These are typical of the kind found in Greece. Of course everyone makes their own slightly different. They are moist and packed full of flavour and everyone will eat way too many!!

You will need:

• 2 slices of bread - crusts removed and chopped into cubes
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small onion - grated
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley - chopped fine 
• 2 tbsp fresh mint - chopped fine
• 2 spring onions - chopped fine
• 2 cloves garlic - chopped fine
• 2 tsp dry oregano
• 3 tbsp good olive oil 
• 1 tsp lemon zest - finely grated
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Step 1: Remove the crust from 2 slices of your favourite bread. Chop into cubes and place in a bowl with milk. Wait 5 minutes then squish and crumble the bread in your fingers to create a wet breadcrumb.

Step 2: place ground beef in a large bowl. Grate onion and place on top. Add egg to bowl.

Step 3: chop parsley, mint, spring onions and garlic. Add to bowl.

Step 4: add all remaining ingredients; dry oregano, extra virgin olive oil, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Mix well with your hands.

Step 5: form into small thumb sized keftedes. 

Grill as many as you want to eat (make lots!) and freeze the remainder.

Served with Greek roasted potatoes, pita bread, tzatziki and a simple chunky salad.