Description
Mediterranean comfort meets fresh ingredients in this Greek Meatball Bowl, bringing zesty flavors from Greece’s culinary landscape. Perfectly seasoned lamb meatballs nestled over herbed rice and crisp vegetables invite you to savor a delightful, balanced meal that celebrates Mediterranean cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb (454 grams) ground lamb or beef
- 2 cups cooked basmati or jasmine rice
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cucumber
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
Meat Mixture Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Seasoning and Accompaniment Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for frying)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Craft the aromatic meatball mixture by thoroughly blending ground meat with breadcrumbs, grated onion, minced garlic, beaten egg, chopped parsley, dill, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing bowl until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Form the seasoned meat mixture into uniform, bite-sized spheres approximately one inch in diameter, ensuring consistent shape for even cooking.
- Warm olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat and carefully place meatballs, rotating periodically to achieve a golden-brown exterior and ensuring complete internal cooking, which typically requires 8-10 minutes.
- Prepare the creamy tzatziki by whisking together Greek yogurt, finely grated cucumber, crushed garlic, fresh lemon juice, chopped dill, drizzle of olive oil, and seasoning with salt and pepper until smooth.
- Refrigerate the tzatziki sauce to allow flavors to meld and chill while completing remaining preparation steps.
- Distribute cooked rice evenly across serving bowls as a foundational layer.
- Arrange the perfectly cooked meatballs atop the rice, then artfully garnish with halved cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber slices, briny Kalamata olives, and thinly sliced red onion.
- Generously drizzle the chilled tzatziki sauce over the assembled bowl and sprinkle crumbled feta cheese as a final flourish before serving immediately.
Notes
- Moisture Matters: Grate onion instead of chopping to add more moisture and prevent dry meatballs, ensuring a juicier texture.
- Lean Protein Swap: Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version, maintaining the same delicious Greek flavors while reducing fat content.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs to make the recipe celiac-friendly without compromising texture.
- Herb Freshness Boost: Use freshly chopped herbs instead of dried for a more vibrant and authentic Mediterranean taste that elevates the entire dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg