Greek Meatballs With Tzatziki Sauce Recipes

KOFTEDES GREEK MEATBALLS

Steps:

• If serving in bowls as suggested in this post, first prepare the Greek salad according to this recipe (dress salad later, if you prefer) and Tzatziki sauce according to this recipe. Set aside or refrigerate for now.
• In a large skillet like this one, heat 2 tbsp Private Reserve olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until golden and translucent, stirring regularly. Transfer the onions and garlic mixture to a large mixing bowl to cool. Set skillet aside for later.
• Wring the excess milk out of the soaked bread. Add the bread to the mixing bowl.
• To the mixing bowl add the ground beef and lamb (or pork), 1 egg, fresh mint, spices, salt and pepper, and 1 tbsp lemon zest. Mix by hand until until mixture is fully incorporated.
• Form the meat mixture into balls (each the size of a heaping tablespoon.) Roll meatballs into the flour to lightly coat and place them on a large tray for now.
• In the large skillet you used earlier, add 1/4 cup Private Reserve olive oil. Heat over medium-high. Turn heat to medium and add the meatballs to cook (do this in batches if you need to.) Cook meatballs for 10 minutes or so, turning occasionally, until fully cooked and well-crusted on all sides.
• With a slotted spoon, remove meatballs from skillet onto paper towels to drain any excess fat. Meanwhile, carefully discard most of the cooking fat from skillet (best to dump into a tin can until cooled). Return skillet to stove-top over medium heat.
• Whisk the 1 egg yolk with the chicken broth and lemon juice. Add to cooking skillet with the remaining lemon zest, then add the meatballs back in. Cook over medium heat for another 5 minutes until the lemon sauce thickens.
• Serve hot in bowls with pita bread, Greek salad and Tzatziki sauce. Or serve in pita pockets as sandwiches, if you prefer.

LAMB MEATBALLS WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE

Steps:

• In the bowl with the lamb, add red onion, garlic, egg, bread crumbs, cumin, mayonnaise, fresh mint, and salt. Using your hands, mix thoroughly to distribute the ingredients evenly. With a teaspoon, form the mixture into 24 meatballs. Don't level the meat off or pack the meatballs too tightly.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Lightly spread canola oil on a baking sheet using a paper towel. Place the meatballs two inches apart on the baking sheet, and position the baking sheet 4 inches from the heat source.
• Broil for about 5 minutes, turning once halfway through.
• Arrange the meatballs on a serving platter, and squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top. Sprinkle the cayenne pepper over the meatballs at the last minute. Serve at once with tzatziki.
• Place cucumber, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, mint, and dill in a bowl and mix well. Add the Greek yogurt and mix well.
• Cover with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 to 3 hours before serving.

GREEK TURKEY MEATBALL GYRO WITH TZATZIKI

Steps:

• To a large bowl add, ground turkey, diced red onion, minced garlic, oregano, fresh spinach, salt, and pepper. Using your hands mix all the ingredients together until meat forms a ball and sticks together.
• Then using your hands, form the meat mixture into 1″ balls. (about 12 meatballs).
• Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat. Add avocado oil to the pan, and then add the meatballs. Cook each side for 3-4 minutes until they are browned on all sides and the internal temperature has reached 165°F. Remove from the pan and let rest.
• To a small bowl add greek yogurt, grated cucumber, lemon juice, dill, garlic powder, and salt to taste. Mix together until everything is combined.
• To a flatbread (I like to warm mine up so they are more pliable) add 3 meatballs, sliced red onion, tomato, and cucumber. Then top with Tzatziki sauce.

GREEK MEATBALLS WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE

Steps:

• Add 1 tbsp olive oil to a large skillet on the stove over medium high heat.
• Add the onion, saute 4-5 minutes.
• Add the garlic, saute for an additional minute, then remove from the heat.
• In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, diced tomato, cinnamon, allspice, cayenne pepper and ground cloves.
• Add the parmesan cheese, feta cheese, breadcrumbs, egg and cooked onions and garlic.
• Use your hands to mix all of the ingredients together until well combined.
• Form the mixture into approximately 28 golf ball sized meatballs.
• In the same skillet you cooked the onions and garlic, add the additional 1 tbsp olive oil and place on the stove over medium high heat.
• Add the meatballs to the skillet and sear on all sides for 3-4 minutes.
• Cover the skillet, reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking for an additional 20 minutes. (You can also bake the meatballs in the oven or grill them, see notes below for further instructions.)
• Prepare the Tzatziki sauce by combining all of the ingredients for the sauce in a medium mixing bowl.
• Refrigerate the sauce until ready to use.

GREEK MEATBALLS WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE

Steps:

• Add all the meatball ingredients to a large bowl. combine the ingredients until they are all mixed together. Form the mixture into meatballs using approximately 2 tbsp - 1/4 cup of the turkey mixture per meatball.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and heat a non-stick skillet over high heat.
• Once the skillet it hot, add the meatballs. Cook for 1-2 minutes then turn them. (I like to do this to get a good crispy meatball, but you can skip this step and go straight to baking them - just be sure to add on additional baking time)
• After they have been browned on all sides, transfer to a baking sheet and place in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. The cooking time will vary based upon the size of the meatballs and how long you sear them in the skillet.
• While the meatballs are cooking, assemble the Tzatziki sauce by combining all the ingredients in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to eat.
• Serve the meatballs with the Tzatziki sauce and enjoy!

GREEK MEATBALLS AND TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place a cooling rack over 2 baking sheets for roasting the meatballs and toasting the pita.
• Soak the bread in the milk. Peel the cucumber and grate into a strainer. Salt it and let it drain for 20 minutes.
• Pour the EVOO into a bowl, then add the meat and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Squeeze out the bread and crumble between your fingers as you add it to the meat. Add the mint, onions, oregano, cinnamon, 2 of the garlic cloves, egg and 1/2 of the lemon juice, and mix to combine.
• Using a small ice cream scoop, form the meat mixture into about 24 balls and place on the baking sheet. Roast to golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the oven and place the broiler on high. Char the pita under the broiler, 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side.
• Press the cucumber in the strainer to get out the excess water and add to a food processor. Then add the yogurt, dill, remaining 1 clove garlic, zest and remaining juice of the lemon. Season the sauce with cumin and salt and process until smooth.
• Serve the meatballs with the sauce and pitas.

GREEK MEATBALL STUFFED PITAS WITH SIMPLE TZATZIKI SAUCE

Steps:

• For the Tzatziki
• Place the grated cucumber in the center of a clean kitchen towel. Roll up the towel and squeeze out the excess water from the cucumber. Place the cucumber in a medium bowl. Add the yogurt, garlic, salt, pepper and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. This can be made several days in advance.
• For the Meatballs
• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly grease the foil with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, stir together the bread crumbs and milk and let the mixture sit for a few minutes to let the crumbs soften. Add the parsley, egg, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Add the turkey and mix until well combined.
• Portion the meatballs into tablespoon-sized balls and place ½-inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes until the meatballs are no longer pink in the center.
• To Serve
• Slice the pita breads in half. Dollop a spoonful of tzatziki sauce on the bottom of each pita. Add a layer of tomatoes and greens. Stuff meatballs inside and serve.

GREEK MEATBALLS WITH GREEN BEANS AND TOMATOES (MAKE-AHEAD FREEZER MEAL)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Whisk together onion, feta cheese, bread crumbs, eggs, parsley, garlic, oregano, and lemon zest in a large bowl. Add turkey, salt, and pepper; mix until well combined.
• Use wet hands to form mixture into twenty 1 ½- to 2-inch meatballs. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until browned and slightly firm, 10 to 12 minutes; meatballs will not be fully cooked at this point. Let meatballs cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Combine cooled meatballs and green beans in a large, resealable freezer bag. Tightly seal the bag, allowing as much air to escape as possible. Freeze for up to one month.
• When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Empty frozen meatballs and beans onto a large, rimmed baking sheet. Add cherry tomatoes and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
• Bake in the preheated 425 degree F (220 degree C) oven until veggies are tender and meatballs are cooked through, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir together Greek yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, dill, and salt for tzatziki sauce.
• Serve meatballs and veggies with pita rounds and tzatziki sauce.