Mititei

Name: Mititei
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Moldovan
Ingredients: 1kg ground beef; 6 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp baking soda; 1 tsp dried thyme; 1 tsp sweet paprika; 100ml beef broth; 2 tbsp sunflower oil; Salt and black pepper; Mustard for serving

Mititei (mee-tee-TAY)

Grilled Beef Sausages

⏱ Prep Time 1 hour

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 370 kcal

Skinless beef sausages seasoned with garlic, cumin, and baking soda for a distinctive fluffy texture, grilled over charcoal until charred and juicy.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 32.0g

Carbs 2.0g

Fat 26.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free nut-free

Equipment Needed

charcoal grill mixing bowl plastic wrap

Presentation Guide

Vessel: wooden board

Garnishes: mustard, sliced onions

Accompaniments: crusty bread, cold beer, pickles

Ingredients

1kg ground beef
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp sweet paprika
100ml beef broth
2 tbsp sunflower oil
Salt and black pepper
Mustard for serving

Instructions

1
Mix ground beef with garlic, cumin, baking soda, thyme, paprika, beef broth, oil, salt, and pepper. Knead the mixture well for five minutes.
2
Cover and refrigerate for at least four hours or overnight. The baking soda reacts with the meat to create the characteristic light texture.
3
With wet hands, shape the mixture into finger-sized sausages about eight centimeters long and two centimeters thick.
4
Preheat charcoal grill to high heat. The coals should be white-hot for the best char.
5
Grill mititei for three to four minutes per side, turning carefully, until charred on the outside and juicy inside.
6
Serve immediately with strong mustard, crusty bread, and cold beer. They must be eaten hot off the grill.

💡

Did You Know?

Legend has it that mititei were invented when a Bucharest restaurant ran out of sausage casings and the cook shaped the seasoned meat by hand, accidentally creating an iconic dish.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

charcoal grill
mixing bowl
plastic wrap

Garnishing

mustard, sliced onions

Accompaniments

crusty bread, cold beer, pickles

The Story Behind Mititei

Mititei are perhaps the most beloved street food and grill item across Moldova and Romania. These skinless sausages, whose name literally means "little ones," emerged in the nineteenth century and quickly became inseparable from outdoor gatherings, sports events, and summer barbecues. The secret to their unique texture lies in the addition of baking soda, which gives them an almost fluffy interior beneath the charred exterior. No Moldovan celebration is complete without the smell of mititei on the grill.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed summer gatherings and barbecues 📜 Origins: 19th century Moldovan-Romanian

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