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Tefteli (Meatballs in Tomato Sour Cream Sauce)

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Soft, home-style tefteli simmer in a light tomato sour cream sauce that stays smooth, gentle, and deeply comforting. Rice keeps the meatballs tender, and the sauce settles into something rich enough to spoon over potatoes, rice, or bread.
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 3

Ingredients

  • 500 g ground meat
  • 100 g uncooked rice
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • black pepper to taste
  • 5 g butter
  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 360 ml water
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  • Cook the rice in salted water until just tender, then cool slightly.
  • Mix the ground meat, rice, onion, egg, salt, and black pepper until evenly combined.
  • Form into meatballs.
  • Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat and brown the meatballs lightly on all sides.
  • Add enough hot water to come halfway up the meatballs, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Whisk the sour cream, flour, tomato paste, and remaining water until smooth.
  • Pour the sauce into the skillet and simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes, until the sauce thickens and the meatballs are fully cooked.