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Tefteli
Meatballs in tomato sauce
Tefteli (Тефтели): beef and rice meatballs simmered in tomato sauce
RussianAsk anyone who went to a Soviet school canteen and they will remember tefteli: soft meatballs studded with rice, served in a ladle of tomato sauce with buckwheat or mashed potato. They are still the go-to dinner for small children from Moscow to Yekaterinburg because they are tender enough to cut with a spoon. They are softer and plainer than kotlety and are always cooked in sauce, never just fried. The common mistake is boiling the sauce hard, which breaks the meatballs apart. Chef's tip: roll each ball with wet hands and leave them in the fridge for 15 minutes before cooking; they hold together much better.
- Total time
- 55 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 2 ½ oz round-grain rice
- 1 ⅛ lb minced beef
- 1 onionvery finely chopped
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp plain flour
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
For the sauce
- 1 carrotgrated
- 3 tbsp tomato purée
- 2 cups water
- 2 tbsp sour cream
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp sugar
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Boil 2 ½ oz round-grain rice for 10 minutes until half-cooked; drain and cool.
10 minStep 2: Mix 1 ⅛ lb minced beef, rice, 1 onion, 1 egg, 1 tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper. With wet hands roll walnut-sized balls (about 20) and chill for 15 minutes. Roll them in 3 tbsp plain flour.
10 minStep 3: Heat 2 tbsp sunflower oil in a wide pan and brown the meatballs lightly all over for 5–6 minutes. Lift out.
6 minStep 4: In the same pan fry 1 carrot for 3 minutes, then stir in 3 tbsp tomato purée, 2 cups water, 2 tbsp sour cream, 1 bay leaf and 1 tsp sugar and bring to a simmer.
4 minStep 5: Return the meatballs, cover and simmer very gently for 25 minutes, turning once, until the sauce has thickened and the centre of a meatball reaches 160°F. Serve with buckwheat or mash.
25 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 410 kcal
- Protein
- 24 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tefteli take?
- About 55 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of round-grain rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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