Authentic Greek Biftekia Taverna-Style
Juicy, herb-filled Greek biftekia grilled to perfection, just like in a traditional taverna. A simple yet flavorful recipe that brings the taste of Greece to your table.
Ingredients
- 550 g ground beef or 400 g beef + 150 g pork
- 1 small onion grated
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1½ slices stale bread, soaked in water and squeezed 3 tbsp - breadcrumbs
- 1 small egg
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh mint finely chopped
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
- Mix thoroughly with hands or spoon for 5 minutes until evenly combined.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld.
- Shape the mixture into 3–4 flat oval patties.
- Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Lightly brush patties with olive oil before grilling.
- Grill for 4–5 minutes per side, until nicely charred and fully cooked inside.
- Serve hot with lemon wedges, tzatziki, Greek salad, or pita.
Notes
Tips:
- Don’t overmix—just enough to bind everything together.
- For more moisture, mix pork into the beef.
- Resting in the fridge helps with binding and flavor.
- Charcoal grilling adds more authentic flavor.
- Add a cube of feta inside for stuffed biftekia.
- Spice it up with chili flakes or smoked paprika.
- Make mini-biftekia for mezze platters.