Description
Traditional Kotleti are delicious Russian-style meatballs made with a mixture of ground pork and beef, seasoned with garlic and onion powders, and soaked bread for a tender texture. Pan-fried to golden perfection in avocado oil and butter, these meatballs are perfect served with mashed potatoes or a simple salad for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 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 water
For Cooking
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- Mix soaked bread and milk: Start by soaking the 2 slices of white bread (with crusts removed) in ½ cup of whole milk for about 5 minutes until softened. This will help keep the kotleti moist and tender.
- Combine meat and spices: In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 pound of ground pork and 1 pound of ground beef. Add the grated onion, 1 ½ tablespoons of garlic powder, 1 ½ tablespoons of onion powder, and 1 ½ tablespoons of kosher salt. Squeeze excess milk from the soaked bread gently and crumble it into the meat mixture along with 2 tablespoons of water. Mix everything thoroughly until evenly combined.
- Shape the kotleti: Using your hands, shape the mixture into oval-shaped patties (kotleti), approximately the size of your palm. This recipe yields about 6 to 6.5 servings.
- Heat the pan and fry: Heat 2 tablespoons of avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the kotleti patties and cook for about 6-7 minutes per side, or until they develop a golden brown crust and are cooked through.
- Add butter for flavor: In the final few minutes of cooking, add 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter to the skillet and baste the kotleti with the melted butter for extra richness and flavor.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve the kotleti hot with your favorite sides such as mashed potatoes, rice, or a fresh salad.
Notes
- Ensure the meat mixture is well combined but avoid overmixing to keep the kotleti tender.
- If you prefer, you can substitute the pork or beef with other ground meats like veal or turkey.
- Adjust the salt to taste depending on the saltiness of your broth or sides if served with soup.
- For extra moisture, you may add a raw egg to the meat mixture, though the bread and milk usually suffice.
- Make sure the pan is hot before adding the meatballs to get a nice crust without sticking.
