Greek Traditional Baked Biftekia with Lemon Potatoes

Ingredients

• 500 g ground beef (lean or mixed beef and pork)
• 2 slices stale bread (soaked in water and squeezed dry)
• 1 red onion (finely grated)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 egg (large)
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley (finely chopped)
• 1 tsp dried oregano (divided use)
• 0.5 cup olive oil (divided use)
• 1 kg potatoes (peeled and cut into wedges)
• 2 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• 1 tbsp mustard (yellow or Dijon)
• salt (to taste)
• black pepper (to taste)
• 0.5 cup water

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 390°F (200°C).

2. 2

   In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, grated onion, minced garlic, egg, chopped parsley, half of the dried oregano, salt, pepper, and the soaked/squeezed bread. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the mixture.

3. 3

   Knead the meat mixture thoroughly for several minutes until well combined and aerated. Set aside to rest for 15-20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

4. 4

   Peel the potatoes and cut them into thick wedges. Place them in a large baking pan.

5. 5

   In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, the rest of the dried oregano, salt, pepper, and water.

6. 6

   Pour the lemon mustard dressing over the potatoes in the pan and toss well to ensure every wedge is coated.

7. 7

   Shape the meat mixture into oval patties (biftekia), roughly the size of a palm.

8. 8

   Nestle the biftekia among the potatoes in the baking pan.

9. 9

   Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 60 minutes. Halfway through, carefully turn the biftekia and toss the potatoes to ensure even browning.

10. 10

    The dish is ready when the potatoes are tender and golden, and the meat is fully cooked and browned. Serve hot.

Notes

For extra fluffiness in the biftekia, you can add a splash of vinegar or soda water to the meat mixture. If the potatoes look dry during baking, add a small amount of additional warm water to the pan.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• Greek
• dinner
• baked
• beef
• potatoes
• family-style