LIGHT & FLUFFY MEATBALLS WITH RICE SIMMERED IN GREEK-STYLE TOMATO SAUCE

Imagine a pot brimming with tender, light meatballs made special by soft cooked rice mixed into the meat, gently simmered alongside potatoes in a rich Greek-style tomato sauce. This technique makes the meatballs incredibly fluffy and moist—perfect for a comforting family meal that feels both hearty and delicate.

🕒 Prep Time: 30 min

⏲️ Cooking Time: 25 min
🍽️ Yields: 3 servings

Ingredients

Sauce & Potatoes:

150 ml Greek-style tomato sauce (or your favorite tomato sauce)
500 g potatoes (for salad or mashed)
150 ml chicken broth

Meatballs:

250 g ground beef or veal
1 small egg
25 g rice (preferably short grain)
1 very small onion (approx. 30 g)
2 small garlic cloves
5 sprigs fresh parsley
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2–3 tablespoons oil for frying

Instructions

1. Prepare the Rice Paste

Cook the rice thoroughly until very soft.
In a food processor, blend the cooked rice with onion and garlic until it forms a smooth paste.
If you don’t have a food processor, finely grate the onion, crush the garlic, and mash the rice well with a fork.

2. Mix Meatball Ingredients

Add the rice-onion-garlic paste to the ground meat.
Add cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, finely chopped parsley, and egg.
Mix gently but thoroughly until evenly combined. Refrigerate if not using immediately.

3. Shape and Coat Meatballs

Wet your hands and form elongated meatballs, about 12–14 in total.
Roll each meatball lightly in flour and shake off excess.

4. Fry Meatballs and Prepare Potatoes

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Fry meatballs briefly on each side until just golden (not fully cooked).
If the meat releases excessive fat during frying, drain most of it, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the pan.
Add peeled potatoes cut lengthwise into 6 pieces into the pan.

5. Simmer Together

Pour in the tomato sauce, chicken broth, and 100 ml water.
Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer gently for 20–25 minutes, until potatoes are tender and meatballs are fully cooked.

6. Serve

Serve hot with rice on the side and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

💡 Tips

Cooking the rice fully soft ensures a creamy texture inside the meatballs.
Frying meatballs just enough to brown the outside keeps them tender during simmering.
Use a quality Greek-style tomato sauce for authentic flavor.
Adjust spices according to your taste preferences.

🎉 Perfect For

Comforting family dinners
Light yet satisfying meals with balanced textures
Dishes inspired by Mediterranean flavors

📝 Final Thoughts

This recipe combines the comforting flavors of tender meatballs and potatoes simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce with the subtle magic of cooked rice folded into the meat mixture. The rice makes these meatballs light and fluffy, a technique you can easily apply to other meatball recipes for a delicate texture that everyone will love. Serve them fresh with rice and parsley for a meal that warms the heart and pleases the palate.