Mititei in the Air Fryer
Romanian street food, just like from the grill bars: skinless rolls of spiced minced meat with garlic and thyme, dark and crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. The air fryer has them done in 12 minutes.
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Meat thermometer
Ingredients
- 300 g ground beef 8-12% fat
- 300 g ground lamb
- 200 g ground pork Preferably with a little fat
- 4 clove garlic Finely chopped
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 0.5 tsp ground allspice
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper Freshly ground
- 1 dl beef stock Cold
- 1 tbsp neutral oil For hands and brushing
Serving
- 600 g fries Frozen, for the air fryer
- 4 tbsp mustard Preferably coarse or Dijon
Instructions
Mixture
- Chop 4 clove garlic very finely, almost to a paste. The finer the garlic, the more evenly the flavour spreads through the mixture.
- Put 300 g ground beef, 300 g ground lamb and 200 g ground pork in a mixing bowl with the garlic, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp ground cumin, 0.5 tsp ground allspice, 2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper.
- Knead the mixture thoroughly for 5 minutes, until it becomes sticky and cohesive. Add 1 dl beef stock a little at a time as you go, and keep kneading until all the liquid is absorbed into the meat.
- Cover the bowl, and place the mixture in the fridge overnight, at least 8 hours and preferably 12. The resting time is what gives the rolls their springy bite.
Shaping
- Moisten your hands with a little of the 1 tbsp neutral oil, and shape the mixture into 16 evenly sized rolls about 8 cm long and 3 cm thick. Press the ends slightly flat so they don't dry out during cooking.
Cooking in the Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 200 °C.
- Cook the 600 g fries at 200 °C for 15 minutes. Shake the basket a few times along the way, and keep them warm while the rolls cook.
- Place the rolls in the basket in a single layer with a little space between them, and brush them with the remaining oil. Cook in two batches if your air fryer is small.
- Cook the rolls at 200 °C for 12 minutes, turning them after 6 minutes. They should be a deep golden colour with a firm, dry surface.
- Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should be 75 °C. Let the rolls rest for 3 minutes before serving.
Serving
- Serve the hot mititei with the crispy fries and 4 tbsp mustard on the side.
Notes
Tips for the perfect result:
Knead the mixture longer than you think necessary. It should become sticky and almost sausage-like in texture, because it's the binding that holds the rolls together when they have no casing. If the mixture is too loose, the rolls will spread out in the basket. Why the mixture rests overnight:
The baking soda raises the meat's pH, so the proteins hold onto the liquid better. That process takes time, and only after a night in the fridge does mititei get its characteristic springy bite and juiciness. Eight hours is the minimum, twelve is better. Variation:
Use 500 g beef and 300 g pork if you're not keen on lamb. If you want them spicier, add 0.5 tsp ground chili or a pinch of smoked paprika. Serving:
Besides mustard and fries, the Romanian way to serve these includes coarse bread, pickled peppers, and a bowl of raw diced onion. Gluten-free:
The rolls themselves contain neither breadcrumbs nor flour. Check the packaging on your fries, as some brands have a wheat-based coating. Serving size:
If your air fryer is smaller, you can make the dish in two batches.
Knead the mixture longer than you think necessary. It should become sticky and almost sausage-like in texture, because it's the binding that holds the rolls together when they have no casing. If the mixture is too loose, the rolls will spread out in the basket. Why the mixture rests overnight:
The baking soda raises the meat's pH, so the proteins hold onto the liquid better. That process takes time, and only after a night in the fridge does mititei get its characteristic springy bite and juiciness. Eight hours is the minimum, twelve is better. Variation:
Use 500 g beef and 300 g pork if you're not keen on lamb. If you want them spicier, add 0.5 tsp ground chili or a pinch of smoked paprika. Serving:
Besides mustard and fries, the Romanian way to serve these includes coarse bread, pickled peppers, and a bowl of raw diced onion. Gluten-free:
The rolls themselves contain neither breadcrumbs nor flour. Check the packaging on your fries, as some brands have a wheat-based coating. Serving size:
If your air fryer is smaller, you can make the dish in two batches.
