Soutzoukakia with rice(Σουτζουκάκια με ρύζι)

Soutzoukakia, a cross between burgers and meatballs, served in a rich tomato sauce and rice.

Soutzoukakia, a cross between burgers and meatballs, served in a rich tomato sauce with rice.

For most of elementary school, we came home for lunch and were greeted by our mom who had a nice, warm meal waiting for us.  We would eat, sitting next to our mother, and we would watch the Flintstones together.  This was the only time we were allowed to watch television during meals, probably permitted because our mother loved to follow Fred and Barney’s antics as much as we did.  When she first arrived in Canada, it was partially by watching the Flintstones that our mother learned English.  To this day, she can recite most of the episodes, and can yaba-daba-doo with the best of them.

Soutzoukakia, a cross between burgers and meatballs, served in a rich tomato sauce and rice.

Looking back, we don’t think that we appreciated how lucky we were.  In fact, we often wished that we could just stay at school, to eat cold sandwiches with our friends. Every once in a while, our mother would acquiesce, and she would pack us a lunch so that we could eat in the school lunch room. She never packed us sandwiches however, which to this day, she contends, are not food.  Instead she lovingly filled thermoses and containers with things like avgolemono, pastitsio and these soutzoukakia.

When it comes to food that our non-Greek classmates would make fun of, soutzoukakia is right up there.  Not quite meatballs, and not really hamburger patties, it was hard for some of our peers to understand what it was we were eating, often referring to them as mutant, or deformed, versions of their favourite North American fare.  Explaining to them that these were not meant to be either meatballs, or burgers, but that they were instead their own thing called soutzoukakia …well…you can imagine that this did nothing to stop the teasing.  They found that soutzoukakia looked so so kaka! Kids! We didn’t really mind; we were too busy enjoying the company of our friends, and our delicious lunch.

There are many ways to make soutzoukakia, and several ways to serve them.  Often, our parents will make a side of mashed potatoes to accompany the soutzoukakia, but more frequently, they serve them with plain rice, and so this is what we have chosen to feature in this recipe.  The flavourful sauce in which the soutzoukakia cook is generously poured over the meat and the rice, turning something plain, into something just plain fantastic.

Soutzoukakia, a cross between burgers and meatballs, served in a rich tomato sauce and rice.

Helpful hints

Part of what makes soutzoukakia soutzoukakia are their shape.  The best way to create the traditional shape is to roll the meat into a ball and then, between the palms of your hands, gently roll it into an oval log shape.  Each soutzoukaki does not need to be exactly the same as the others, but they should be relatively equal in size, to ensure even cooking.  This is why we suggest that you start each one with about 2 tablespoons worth of meat, and roll from there.

The recipe suggests that you allow the meat mixture to rest for at least two hours.  This is an important step as it allows all the flavours to blend together and, according to our parents, it gives a better texture to the soutzoukakia.

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You will notice that after you roll your soutzoukakia, if you use the quantity we suggest for each one, they will appear to be quite small and scrawny.  Don’t worry, as they cook they will plump up.  Cooking is science!

As we have described in previous posts using rice, such as rice with vegetables and veal kokkinisto served with rice, our parents cook their rice in much the same way that they cook pasta, in plenty of water.  After rinsing the rice, they add it to a large pot of boiling water, cook it until it is done, and then drain it.  This helps to remove much of the arsenic often found in rice, and also prevents situations where you find yourself with burnt rice because there just wasn’t enough water to start with.

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This recipe makes a lot of soutzoukakia, approximately 30 of them.  So great!  If your ground meats were not previously frozen, then you can freeze a portion of the formed soutzoukakia, un-cooked, where they will be ready to be used another day to make soutzoukakia with rice.  To freeze, simply lay them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. When they are frozen, you can store them in a freezer bag.  When it is time to cook them, allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then cook as directed in the recipe.

Soutzoukakia with rice(Σουτζουκάκια με ρύζι)
Soutzoukakia with rice(Σουτζουκάκια με ρύζι)
Soutzoukakia with rice(Σουτζουκάκια με ρύζι)

The tomato sauce which is used as the base of the sauce is our parents’ homemade version.  If you have not already made their tomato sauce, use the best quality tomato sauce you can purchase.  It will make a big difference in the final product.

Although not essential, this dish is made even more delicious with a light, or generous, sprinkling of mizithra on top of both the soutzoukakia and the rice.

Soutzoukakia, a cross between burgers and meatballs, served in a rich tomato sauce and rice.

Looking for something similar? You might like these:

Biftekia with french fries

Biftekia with lemon roasted potatoes

Lamb burgers with feta

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Soutzoukakia, a cross between burgers and meatballs, served in a rich tomato sauce and rice.

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Soutzoukakia, a cross between burgers and meatballs, served in a rich tomato sauce and rice.

Soutzoukakia with rice

Soutzoukakia, a cross between burgers and meatballs, served in a rich tomato sauce and rice.
4.50 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Greek
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Resting time: 2 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Author: Mia Kouppa

Equipment

  • Frying pan
  • Saucepot
  • Grater

Ingredients

  • 600 grams ground beef or veal
  • 475 grams ground pork
  • 2 medium onions, grated
  • 8 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley
  • 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 cup (70 grams) plain breadcrumbs
  • vegetable oil for frying

For the sauce:

  • 2 cups (500 mL) tomato sauce
  • 1 cup (250 mL) water
  • 1/4 cup (60 mL) olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

For the rice:

  • 2 cups Carolina rice, or another long grain rice
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • mizithra (or grated romano) cheese optional

Instructions

  • In a large bowl combine the ground beef, the ground pork, the onion, garlic, parsley, red wine vinegar, olive oil, eggs, salt, ground black pepper, oregano and breadcrumbs.  Mix very well with your hands until everything is combined. Cover, and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
    600 grams ground beef or veal, 475 grams ground pork, 2 medium onions, grated, 8 cloves garlic, finely minced, 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley, 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar, 1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil, 2 large eggs, 1 tbsp salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 cup (70 grams) plain breadcrumbs
  • Shape your soutzoukakia by taking approximately 1/4 cup of the mixture, forming a ball, and then rolling it into an oval shape.  Continue until you have used up all of the meat mixture.
  • Heat the vegetable or corn oil in a large frying pan (allow the oil to come up 1 – 2 centimeters in the pan) over medium heat.  Add the soutzoukakia, being careful not to crowd them.  Fry them, until all sides are golden brown, a few minutes per side.
  • As you finish frying batches of the soutzoukakia, place them carefully in a large saucepot.  Continue until all the soutzoukakia are in the pot.
  • In a small bowl combine the tomato sauce, water, olive oil, ground cinnamon and pepper.  Mix well and then pour this sauce over the soutzoukakia in the pot.
    1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil, 2 cups (500 mL) tomato sauce, 1 cup (250 mL) water, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Heat to boiling, and then reduce heat and cook, covered, over medium heat for approximately 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, cook the rice.
  • Rinse your rice thoroughly.  Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Add the salt and then stir in the rinsed rice.  Cook over medium heat, uncovered, until the rice is done; about 20 minutes.  Drain the rice and set aside.
    2 cups Carolina rice, or another long grain rice, 1 teaspoon salt
  • When the soutzoukakia are done, serve with a side of rice.  Be sure to add sauce from the pot over the tzoutzoukakia, and the rice.  Sprinkle with mizithra.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

We use about 50 grams of meat mixture per soutzoukaki, giving us about 25-30 pieces.

Thanks for sharing!

2 Comments

  1. I love your recipes, your commentary and your pictures!! 💖 I love making soutzoukakia, they’re sooooo delicious!! My only comment on your recipe is that I’ve never known soutzoukakia to be made without cumin, otherwise, aren’t they just elongated keftedakia? Definitely NOT a criticism, just an honest question.4 stars

    1. miakouppa says:

      Hi Eva! Thank you so much for your comment and kind words of support. No worries – we do not take the question as criticism 🙂 Actually our parents very rarely use cumin in their recipes; we think that this is a spice more commonly found in northern regions of Greece. Our parents are from Peloponnese and this is how they make their soutzoukakia. If you do like the flavour of cumin however, feel free to add it to our recipe (1 teaspoon would probably work well). Thanks again for taking the time to write, and hope you continue to find much to love here with us xoox Helen & Billie

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