ReceptnaptárĆufte (meatballs) in tomato sauce with rice
Ćufte are the meatballs of Balkan homes, developed from Turkish köfte. Soft, walnut-sized balls simmer slowly in tomato sauce and come to the table with white rice. Children and adults alike love them, they take little work, and the whole dish comes together in under an hour. It is well worth having fresh bread to mop up the sauce from the plate.
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Ingredients
Method
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- Mix the mince with the egg, breadcrumbs, half the onion very finely chopped, salt and pepper.
- With wet hands, shape walnut-sized meatballs.
- In a large frying pan, soften the rest of the chopped onion in the oil until translucent.
- Add the crushed garlic and the paprika, then immediately pour in the passata.
- Bring the sauce to the boil, season with salt and pepper, then carefully add the meatballs.
- Simmer covered over low heat for 25-30 minutes, turning the meatballs gently now and then.
- Meanwhile, cook the rice in plenty of salted water for about 12-15 minutes until tender, then drain.
- Serve the ćufte with the rice, with plenty of sauce poured over.
A Receptnaptár original recipe. Calories and protein are estimated.
Tips
- Shape the meatballs with wet hands, so that they do not stick and have a smooth surface, which helps them cook more neatly.
- Lower the meatballs carefully into the hot sauce and do not stir for the first 10 minutes, because this is when they fall apart most easily.
- Taste the sauce and, if it is too acidic, add a pinch of sugar, which rounds out the flavour of the tomatoes.
Frequently asked questions
Can the meatballs be fried first?
Yes, browning them all over in a frying pan before they go into the sauce gives a deeper flavour. In that case you can cut the cooking time to 15-20 minutes.
What else goes with them?
Besides rice, mashed potatoes or pasta also work, and even a slice of fresh bread is enough. A spoonful of sour cream or yogurt on top softens the sauce.
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More south slavic ideas
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- Spiced minced meat sausages in flatbread (ćevapčići)
- Spiced bean soup with smoked meat (pasulj)
- Đuveč - baked vegetable rice with chicken
- Stuffed peppers in tomato sauce (punjena paprika)
- Chicken and rice one-pot (piletina sa pirinčem)
- Balkan beef goulash with dumplings (gulaš)
- Breaded cutlet stuffed with kajmak (Karađorđeva šnicla)
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