Izmir Style Meatballs in Tomato Sauce (Izmir Köfte)

Ingredients:

For the meatball:

- 1/2 lb ground meat
- 2 slices of stale bread soaked in water and squeezed tight or 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup minced or finely chopped onion
- 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 1 egg (Traditionally there’s always an egg in the meatballs both to keep the meatballs together and moist when baked; however, I don't like egg smell in meatballs and prefer not to use any)
- Salt

- ~10 peppers. (In Turkey green sweet chilies are staples in this dish.) If you like spicy peppers, you can use any kind of pepper: jalapeno, wax, banana, Anaheim, or poblano. I like using Shishito and sweet Italian peppers for this recipe. Seeded.
- 2 medium size potatoes, peeled and cut in wedges
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3-4 medium size tomatoes, grated or chopped in food processor
- 1 tbsp tomato paste (optional)

Preparation:

-Mix all the ingredients for the meatballs. Knead well for 5-7 minutes. Wet your hands and form 3-4 inches long oval-ish finger shaped meatballs round in the middle and thinner at the ends.
-Heat a pan. Add 3 tbsp olive oil. Add meatballs and cook until they change color. We're not trying to cook them, just sealing them.

-Take the meatballs aside but keep the oil in the pan. (Some people fry the potatoes as well and it is delicious, but much more greasy. So I choose not to fry the potatoes)
-Place meatballs in a sun pattern in a wide bottom oven proof dish or a cast iron pot with 1/2-1 inch intervals. If you're using a square or rectangle dish, you can line them up.
-Add tomato paste to the frying pan and cook for 2 minutes, if you're using any. Add grated tomatoes or canned diced tomatoes or tomato sauce as well. Salt to your taste. Cook tomatoes until the juice is gone. Add 1 and half cup boiling water. Bring to a boil and turn off.
-Place potatoes in between meatballs and put peppers on top, all still in sun shape.
-Pour tomato sauce on top of meatballs and vegetables. The sauce should barely cover the meatballs and vegetables. If it doesn't, add a little bit more boiling water.
-Bake in the middle rack of the oven at 380 F for 40-45 minutes, enough time for potatoes to cook.
-Serve with rice or crusty bread and yogurt.
Bon appétit!

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