Traditional Kotleti Recipe (Meatballs)
Try my family Kotleti Recipe for a classic Ukrainian dinner! These tender and juicy “meatballs” are made from a blend of ground pork, beef, and savory seasonings and pan-fried to perfection.
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 534kcal
Ingredients
Kotleti
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion grated (about 1 cup)
- 1 ½ tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ tablespoons onion powder
- 1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt or more to taste
- 2 slices white bread crust removed
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil for cooking
- 2 tablespoons water
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
Kotleti
- In a small bowl add torn white bread with ½ cup milk and let it soak in the milk.
- In a large mixing bowl add the ground pork and beef, grate the onion into the bowl, add garlic powder, onion powder and kosher salt. Once bread has soaked up all the milk add to the bowl and mix with your hands until fully incorporated.
- Using a 1-inch cookie scoop, scoop out 2 scoops of meat mixture on top of each other onto a plate, repeat until all meat is used up. Wet your hands and take the double scoops of meat and form into a meatball, then flatten and shape into a football. Repeat until all meat is shaped.
- Heat a large pan on medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of avocado oil or any light oil, then start adding the meat patties, arrange in a circle and repeat in the middle. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until browned, flip and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Add any additional oil if needed. Do not press the kotleti down, they will release all their juices. (Note: Depending on the size of your pan, you might need to cook these in two batches.) This will make between 18-21 kotleti, depending on the size you make them.
- Turn the heat to low, add water and butter, cover with a lid and let it simmer for 5 minutes. (Note: If you cooked two batches, add both batches back in the pan to simmer together).
Serve
- Serve the kotleti over buckwheat or mashed potatoes, top with the tomato gravy, top with some fresh herbs and enjoy with pickles.
Notes
Meat Options: Use all ground chicken or mix chicken and pork or chicken and turkey.
Gluten and dairy free options: Use gluten free white bread and cut the crust off and use dairy free milk.
Refrigerate: Store leftover kotleti in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should keep for up to a week.
Freeze: Freeze leftover kotleti by first letting them cool completely. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Pop the baking sheet into the freezer uncovered. Once the patties are completely frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 3 months.
Reheat: Reheat the kotleti in the microwave or add to a pan with a few knobs of butter and a little water and cover and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes. You can also use the conventional oven or an air fryer to reheat them.
Nutrition
Calories: 534kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 1889mg | Potassium: 522mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 213IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 3mg