Pseftokefedes or Greek tomato dumplings

Greek recipe for Pseftokefedes or tomato dumplings . Balls or meatballs with a touch of cinnamon and without meat, perfect if you are on a diet high in vegetables and vegetables or if you are vegetarian. I assure you that one of those recipes with vegetables is delicious, do not hesitate and try to make them. The mixture of onion, tomato and garlic is very rich but if you complete them with a touch of raisins and cinnamon you have an incredible dish. As you can see, this vegetarian recipe breathes Mediterranean air through all the pores.

The  pseftokefedes or tomato keféis is a traditional Greek dish, from the Island of Santorini, perhaps the most beautiful and unique island in the Aegean. This dish, so popular in Greek cuisine, is prepared in every household in the area. These traditional tomato balls are based on the island’s own agricultural products. These mature between the volcanic soil, the sea breeze and the sunlight of the Aegean Sea. If one day you go there to visit I doubt that you want to return to your country of origin.

Greek cuisine is typically Mediterranean, with techniques and ingredients that it shares with other countries such as Italy, Albania or Turkey. So much so that this dish is reflected in Italian cuisine, with all the flavor of the best tomatoes in the Mediterranean. I hope you like it and you are encouraged to prepare it at home, perfect to take to work as a pie plate or to freeze if you prepare meatballs in quantity.

If you want to try different flavors, in easy and tasty recipes, do not hesitate to prepare this recipe. I encourage you with  other Greek, salty and sweet recipes  that you can find on the blog, the famous Greek Musaka , the  Greek Hummus or Cream of Chickpea , the Greek beef dumplings, Galaktoboureko or Greek milk cake, Baklavas and these strawberries with Greek yogurt caramel, you will surely like it.

Preparation of tomato meatballs

1. The important thing about this recipe is the texture of the ball. According to the original recipe, we have to make the balls with the onion and the raw tomato. I have introduced a variant that is to cook the onion a little so that it is a little softer, but you can do it without cooking it.
2. Peel and cut the onions and garlic into very small pieces. In a saucepan we pour olive oil and heat it. When it starts to smoke, add the onions, the raisins and the garlic. Let it cook for about 4 minutes over medium heat.
3. Remove the onion and garlic with a slotted spoon and put it in a large bowl.
4. Peel the tomatoes and cut them into 4-5 pieces, put them in the bowl. Season with salt and pepper and break the 2 eggs.
5. We add them to the bowl along with the cinnamon, oregano, mint (well chopped), parsley and cup of flour, and without fear, we begin to work the dough mixing everything very well, the best option is to do it with your hands.
6. We begin to make small (or large, that to taste) balls that we will later coat with more flour. We are leaving them on a plate waiting for their preparation.
7. We pass the meatballs to the pan in abundant olive oil. The oil must be very hot so that when it comes to frying they are done on the outside and are juicy on the inside (about 3-4 minutes). They should be golden.
8. We remove and leave on absorbent paper to remove the remains of oil.
9. When we finish frying the meatballs, remove the oil and add a little chopped onion and tomato. We poach until we have a thick sauce and pour it very hot on top of the meatballs.
10. I usually accompany them with white rice , but they also do very well with a little pasta and if you want it to be super Greek you can accompany them with raw vegetables or with lettuce leaves, wrap them in them and the belly.

I hope you like these false meatless meatballs, so tasty and aromatic that you will repeat the recipe at home many times. A delight of Greek cuisine at your fingertips and cooking. Take advantage!

You can see all the photos of the step by step in the next album.