SOUTZOUKAKI

SOUTZOUKAKI (soo-tzoo-KAH-kyah) comes from the Turkish word "soutzouk" or sausage.

  

You might call them the Turkish or Greek version of a meatball.  However, these meatballs are shaped like little kebabs or small fat sausages. They are lightly fried and then bathed in a simple wine-sweetened tomato sauce spiced with cinnamon and garlic. Then it simmers away to have all the fragrant tastes infused throughout. They originally hail from Smyrni, or better known now as  modern day Izmir, and the spices are more Turkish than Greek.

SAUSAGE

1.5 pounds of ground meat
2 eggs
2 slices white bread
¼ cup milk (maybe more)
3 garlic cloves grated
1 teaspoon Cumin
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1 cup diced small onion
¼ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon Salt ( or so )
Ground pepper to taste (I use a lot)

Place bread in a bowl with the milk and let it soak . Meanwhile place all sausage ingredients but oil in large mixing bowl.

Let the bread absorb the milk until saturated

Wring the bread out over the milk bowl and place the next piece in to soak. Crumble the bread into the big bowl of the meat mixture and do the same with the second bread slice.

Take off all rings and start to knead the mixture to be well incorporated.

Roll into balls the size of a golf ball. Then smooth the ball out to form a long sausage. Place on a plate.

Place the sausages back in the pan and simmer on low for 30 minutes.

 

                                                    

Fry on high heat to brown on all sides

   Heat the oil in the frying pan and fry on high heat on all sides. Repeat with the remaining sausages, placing fried ones on a paper towel when finished.(do not burn but fry to get a nice brown crust all around – they will not be cooked through)

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Drain well on paper towels 

Scrap the bottom as you add the wine to release all bits on
 the bottom of the pan

SAUCE

2  14.5 oz cans chopped tomatoes and its juice (or equal in fresh tomatoes)
2 cups red wine
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 garlic clove grated
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper to taste

Once all are fried we will make the sauce.

Turn the heat down on the frying pan to medium.  In the frying pan (DO NOT CLEAN OUT) add 2 cups of red wine .Over medium heat scrap the bits up from the bottom of the pan. Add the chopped tomatoes, oregano, salt, pepper cinnamon

TIP:

 Place a mesh top on the fry pan to keep splattering down.

As always be your own Creative Dump Cook and change this recipe to what YOU have on hand!