Turkish Meatballs

During her last visit, my niece Hannah and I made Turkish Meatballs.

This is one of my favorite recipes - easy and oh so tasty.

I think of this recipe in four parts:

1. yogurt sauce
2. meatball
3. tomato sauce
4. the final product.

Part I: Yogurt Sauce

• 2 to 3 minced garlic cloves
• 2/3 of a 32 ounce container of plain yogurt (you choose the fat content)

Mince three to four cloves of garlic . . .

and then stir into about two thirds of a 32 ounce carton of plain yogurt.

I like to stir right into the carton so there's one less dish to wash.

Also, after mixing in the garlic, put the garlic yogurt into the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Part II: Meatballs (more like Meatlogs)

• 2 slices day-old white bread, crust removed, made into breadcrumbs in a food processor.
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1/8 cup grated Spanish onion
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tablespoon paprika
• 1/6 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley

Hannah mincing the onion.

She doesn't even need to use the goggles. I'm impressed.

Mix all the ingredients . . .
by hand.

Cover and refrigerate for half an hour.
Then form into four logs and cook under the broiler for about 12 to 15 minutes turning once after about six minutes.

Part III: Tomato Sauce

• 3/4 tablespoon virgin olive oil
• 1 15 ounce can of diced tomatoes
• Salt and pepper

Heat the olive oil in a sauce pan over medium heat.

Pour in the can of tomatoes and smash them into a puree.

I use a potato masher.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Keep the sauce warm until ready to serve.

Part IV: The Final Product

• 4 pita breads
• 1/8 cup (1/2 a stick) of butter
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

Melt the butter and stir in the red pepper.

Then assemble.

For each plate, cut up a pita bread,

place one meatlog on it,

with a large ladle of tomato sauce,

a not so large ladle of yogurt sauce,

followed by a generous sprinkling of chopped up parsley

and a drizzle of the pepper butter.

Then dig in and enjoy.

You can also serve as a pita bread sandwich, but the way I figure it,

that sandwich will fall apart and become what is suggested above.

The chefs.