Authentic Soutzoukakia Smyrneika

Step 1

Puree the onion together with 2 tbsp olive oil in a foodprocessor.

Step 2

Heat the remaining olive oil and sauté the onion for a few minutes and then add all the spices and stir to get out their fragrances.  Add the tomatoes and water, bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, until the sauce is thick.

Step 3

Meantime, soak the bread together with the wine, lemon juice and 2 tbsp olive oil.

Step 4

Squeeze the bread and use the fluid to puree the garlic in afood processor. Then add the bread in the food processor and mix.

Step 5

Put the ground meat in a bowl with all the spices and bread.Mix well and let it rest for about ½ to 1 hour in the refrigerator for the flavours to mix.

Step 6

Shape the meatballs into oblong small sausages, around 8 cm (3 inches) long. Heat about an inch of olive oil in a skillet and fry them just until lightly golden brown on both sides. Remove them directly into the sauce.

Step 7

Bring the sauce to boil, lower heat and simmer for aboutanother 20 minutes until sauce thickens.

Step 8

Soutzoukakia in the air fryer: I used the option for drumsticks. This function is for 20 minutes at 180oC / 350oF. I set the timer at 10 minutes in order to check how they were doing and at 10 minutes they were perfect. Check the post for more details.