Time: 45 min
Servings: 2 – 4

Ingredients:

2	Carrots (medium)	2
1	Potato (large)	1
2 – 3	Eggs	2 – 3
1 lb	Ground beef	½ kg
1 tsp	Parsley	1 tsp
As needed	Flour	As needed
¼ tsp	Salt	¼ tsp
¼ tsp	Pepper	¼ tsp
As needed	Oil	As needed

Instructions:
1. Wash, peel, and grate the carrots and potatoes as fine as possible. Squeeze between a few layers of paper towel to draw off excess water. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add the ground beef, potato, carrot, parsley, 2 Tbs flour, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
3. Form the mixture into equal sized balls, about the size of a heaping tablespoon. Make them as compact as possible, squeezing out excess water.
4. In a pan, add the oil and heat over a medium-high flame.
5. Pour a bit of flour into a bowl, and roll the Chiftele in flour. Fry them in the oil, turning occasionally until brown and cooked all the way through.
6. When done, place on a plate with a layer of paper towel to drain off excess oil.

Notes: Chiftele are traditional Romanian meatballs, usually served with tomato sauce, mustard, sour cream, or other dips. They also work well as an appetizer together with cheese, tomato slices, peppers, and/or cabbage. Stick them in a sandwich with slices of cheese and mustard if you happen to have any left over the next day! Ground beef can be hard to find in Romania – but if you just ask, most butcher shops (and some supermarkets) will grind beef to order.

Variations: Try adding ½ c cheese and a hot pepper for a spicier version.

Substitutions: Ground beef/Ground meat (tocăniţă).