Chiftele
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 35 mins
Chiftele are delicious traditional Romanian meatballs, prepared with meat that is ground with raw vegetables before being fried.
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Romanian
Servings: 6 people
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground lamb
- 1 large onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ bunch dill
- ½ bunch parsley
- 2 eggs , lightly beaten
- 1 small potato
- 1 carrot
- 1 stalk celery
- 1 slice bread , soaked in water
- Salt
- Pepper
- Nutmeg
- 3 tablespoons water (cold)
- Flour (for dusting)
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
For the sauce
- 2 scallions , grated
- 2 cloves garlic
- 4 tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ½ bunch parsley , finely chopped
- ½ green bell pepper , cut into strips
- 1 red bell pepper , cut into strips
- 1 green hot pepper , sliced
- ½ cup water
- A few pearl onions (optional)
- A few cherry tomatoes (optional)
Instructions
Meatballs
-
In the food processor, chop meat, onion, garlic, dill, parsley, potatoes, celery and carrot.
-
Sprinkle with nutmeg.
-
Stir in bread, cold water and eggs by hand.
-
Add salt and pepper.
-
Thoroughly mix the preparation and set it aside for 30 minutes by working it several times by hand.
-
Grease your hands and form smooth round balls, about the size of a large walnut (about 1 oz/30g) and roll in flour.
-
Fry the meatballs in a large frying pan over medium heat one minute on each side. They should be half submerged in oil.
-
Drain and set aside.
Sauce
-
Peel, core and cut the tomatoes into small cubes.
-
Sauté onions over medium heat.
-
Add all the other ingredients except the pearl onions and cherry tomatoes.
-
Mix well.
-
When it is boiling again, dip the meatballs in the sauce and cook for 45 minutes (15 minutes over medium heat and 30 minutes over low heat to simmer).
-
15 minutes before end of cooking, add the pearl onions and cherry tomatoes in the sauce.