Greek meatballs in spicy tomato sauce

1️⃣ Preheat the oven to 400F. 

2️⃣ In a small bowl, mix together the panko breadcrumbs and milk and let sit for ~10 mins until the panko absorbs the milk. 

3️⃣ In a separate large bowl, add the ground beef, garlic, onion, egg, cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and hydrated breadcrumbs. Mix until all ingredients are evenly distributed and then form into large meatballs (~3 Tbsp meat per meatball; oil your hands if the meat is sticking). 

4️⃣ Place the meatballs in a large baking dish coated with 2 Tbsp olive oil. Bake uncovered at 400F for 20-25 mins until the internal temp reaches 165F. 

5️⃣ While the meatballs are baking, make the sauce: In a large pot preheated over medium high heat, sauté the onions in 2 Tbsp olive oil for 3-4 mins until they’re starting to soften and become translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 min until fragrant, then stir in the crushed tomatoes cumin, sugar, cinnamon, crushed red, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat then cover and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.

6️⃣ Uncovered the pot and add the meatballs along with all the pan drippings from the baking dish. Stir and bring to a boil over high heat, then cover and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes until flavors have melded. 

7️⃣ Serve the meatballs with crispy potatoes (or rice) and a dollop of Greek yogurt on top. Sprinkle some paprika on the Greek yogurt and enjoy!