Savory Fried Meatballs: Easy 30-Min Recipe
These Romanian-style fried meatballs, known as chiftele, offer an irresistible crispy exterior and a juicy, tender interior. Made with ground pork, fresh herbs, and a simple bread binder, they are easy to prepare and perfect as appetizers or a main dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 16-20 meatballs 1x
- Category: Main Course/Appetizer
- Method: Pan-Frying/Deep-Frying
- Cuisine: Romanian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound Ground Pork
- 1 cup Chopped Green Onions
- 1 cup Chopped Green Garlic (or 8 garlic cloves)
- 1 cup Fresh Parsley
- 1 cup Fresh Dill
- 2 large Eggs
- 2 cups Hardened Bread, soaked and squeezed dry
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 1 cup Flour (for coating)
- Vegetable Oil (for frying)
Instructions
- Soak the hardened bread in water or milk for 5 minutes until soft. Squeeze out excess moisture.
- In a large bowl, combine ground pork, green onions, green garlic, parsley, dill, salt, pepper, and eggs. Crumble the soaked bread into the mixture. Mix thoroughly by hand until well combined.
- Scoop spoonfuls of the meat mixture and roll them into golf-ball-sized meatballs.
- Lightly dredge each meatball in flour, coating evenly.
- Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in large frying pans over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Carefully place meatballs into the hot oil in batches, ensuring they don’t overcrowd the pan.
- Fry for 3-4 minutes per side, turning gently, until golden brown and crispy.
- Transfer fried meatballs to a platter lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Serve hot and enjoy your delicious fried meatballs.
Notes
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free breadcrumbs or bread and chickpea or rice flour for coating.
- Ground beef, chicken, or turkey can be substituted for ground pork.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes to restore crispiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: N/A
- Sodium: N/A
- Fat: N/A
- Saturated Fat: N/A
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Fiber: N/A
- Protein: N/A
- Cholesterol: N/A
Find it online: https://sarecipe.com/fried-meatballs-recipe/