Soutzoukakia
Cumin-spiced meatballs in a cinnamon tomato sauce.
Ingredients
- 600 g Ground beef
- 1 tbsp Ground cumin
- 3 cloves Garlic
- ¼ Baguette
- 400 g Canned tomatoes
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- 3 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp Salt
Method
- Soak the bread in a little water until soft, squeeze out the excess, then mix it with the beef, cumin, garlic, and salt and shape into small ovals.
- Brown the meatballs in the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until well coloured all over, then set aside.
- Simmer the canned tomatoes with the cinnamon stick into a sauce, then return the meatballs to cook through.
- Serve with rice or bread.
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About Soutzoukakia
Soutzoukakia are Greek spiced meatballs braised in tomato sauce, a dish with roots in the Greek communities of Smyrna in Asia Minor, which is why they are often called soutzoukakia Smyrneika. What sets them apart from other Mediterranean meatballs is their spicing: ground cumin worked into the beef and, crucially, a cinnamon stick simmered in the tomato sauce, a warm, sweet-savory note that signals the dish's Anatolian heritage. Soaking bread and mixing it into the meat is the traditional binder that keeps the oval-shaped meatballs tender and light rather than dense. Browning them first, then finishing them in the sauce, builds a deeper flavor and lets them soak up the tomato as they cook through.
The eating experience is aromatic and comforting: soft, cumin-scented meatballs in a tomato sauce carrying that unmistakable whisper of cinnamon, savory with just a hint of sweetness. It is homely, satisfying fare rather than delicate, the kind of thing Greek families make for a weeknight dinner. The sauce is generous and made for sopping, so soutzoukakia are traditionally served over rice or with plenty of bread to catch it. A spoonful of the cinnamon-tomato sauce over each portion ties the plate together.
Soutzoukakia: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Soutzoukakia?
A serving has about 514 calories — 31.9g protein, 18.1g carbs, 34.5g fat, 3.1g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 31.9g of protein, roughly 25% of its calories.
Is Soutzoukakia gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Baguette. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
How long does Soutzoukakia take to make?
About 45 minutes start to finish, but only around 18 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
How many servings does Soutzoukakia make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.