Mediterranean Meatball Pita Recipes

SLOW COOKER MEDITERRANEAN MEATBALL PITAS

Steps:

• Spray inside of 4.5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Stir together eggs, bread crumbs, onion, parsley, garlic and spices in large bowl until well combined. Add meat to egg mixture and mix until just combined. Divide and roll meat mixture evenly into 20 meatballs.
• Working in batches, brown meatballs in skillet until browned on all sides. Pour 1 can tomato sauce into bottom of slow cooker. Place meatballs on top of sauce. Pour remaining tomato sauce over meatballs. Cook on LOW 4 hours or HIGH 2 hours.
• To serve: Place 2 meatballs in each pita half and top with some sauce. Top each pita with cheese, parsley and mint.

EAT-YOUR-VEGGIES MEDITERRANEAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray.
• Put the spinach in a large microwave-safe bowl and microwave according to the package instructions until cooked. Let cool slightly.
• Add the turkey, breadcrumbs, cumin, garlic, carrot, egg, 1 tablespoon of the dill, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Mix with your hands until just combined. Scoop mounds of the meat mixture (about 2 tablespoons each) onto the prepared baking sheet. With damp hands, roll the mounds into balls and space them evenly apart on the baking sheet. Bake until cooked through, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir together the yogurt, lemon juice and remaining dill in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve 3 meatballs in each pita half. Pack in shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes. Drizzle with the yogurt sauce.

GREEK MEATBALLS WITH TZATZIKI AND TOASTED PITA

Steps:

• Remove the ground beef from the refrigerator at least 15 minutes before you start cooking. In a large bowl, soak the slices of bread in the red wine vinegar. Let them sit for 5 minutes so they can absorb the vinegar. Squeeze them dry and if there is any vinegar left, discard it. Grate the onion using a box grater and then grate the garlic cloves with the help of a microplane. Add them both to the bowl.
• Next, add the ground beef, egg, olive oil, seasoning, and parsley and mix until all the ingredients are thoroughly incorporated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least half an hour. (This step will make them easier to roll and hold their shape.)
• Measure out heaped tablespoons of the mixture and roll into balls. It should make about 25 meatballs. Place them on a tray and set aside.
• Place a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat (medium if you have a powerful gas stove). Add enough olive oil to generously cover the bottom of the skillet.
• While the oil is heating, dredge the meatballs lightly in the flour, shaking off excess and place them in the hot skillet. (You will need to cook the meatballs in two batches.) Cook on all sides for about 6 minutes, rolling them around so they cook evenly. Once they are nicely browned, remove them from the skillet and keep warm while you work with the second batch.
• Place three or four of them on a warm pita and add some tzatziki. Sprinkle with some thinly sliced red onions and minced parsley. Wrap the pita tightly around the meatballs and enjoy!
• Peel the cucumber, seed it and grate it. Place it in a colander, sprinkle with some salt and let it sit for half an hour. Squeeze the water out by pressing it between the palms of your hands. Place the grated cucumber in a medium bowl.
• Press the garlic through the press (or use a microplane) and place it in a bowl. Add the minced fresh dill.
• Add the rest of the ingredients, season with salt, mix well and refrigerate overnight or for at least a couple of hours to allow the flavors to develop.
• Before serving, stir it well and taste it. Adjust the seasoning if needed, drizzle with some extra olive oil and serve with toasted Greek pita bread cut in triangles.

MEDITERRANEAN MEATBALL SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine onion, parsley, salt and pepper. Add beef; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into four 4x2-in. oblong patties., Grill patties, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat 4-6 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 160°. Serve on pitas with tzatziki sauce and toppings as desired.

MEDITERRANEAN MEATBALLS IN PITA POCKETS

Steps:

• Toss tomatoes, shallots, and parsley with red wine vinegar, olive oil, and some salt and pepper.
• Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add cooking oil and then meatballs to heated oil. Sear on both sides for 3 minutes each.
• Lower heat to medium, and add chicken stock. Cover pan with lid or foil and cook for another 4 to 6 minutes, until meatballs are done.
• While meatballs cook, mix cucumbers with yogurt and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt.
• Halve pitas on a sheet pan and broil for 2 to 3 minutes.
• When meatballs are done, halve. Place into pita pockets and drizzle with tzatziki. Enjoy with tomato salad on the side!

MEDITERRANEAN MEATBALL PITAS

Steps:

• Finely dice White Onion (3/4) and Garlic (4 clove).
• Add oil to a frying pan on medium-high heat. Saute onions, garlic, and Ground Cumin (1 teaspoon) for 5 minutes.
• Season onion mixture with Salt (to taste) and Ground Black Pepper (to taste) before setting aside to cool.
• Thinly slice Red Onion (1/4) and dice Lebanese Cucumber (2).
• Thinly slice Fresh Parsley (1/2 cup).
• Halve Cherry Tomato (8) and scoop out the seeds from the tomatoes before dicing.
• Combine Ground Beef (1 pound), Egg (1), cooked onions and garlic, Breadcrumbs (2 tablespoon), Plain Greek Yogurt (2 tablespoon), Salt (to taste), and Ground Black Pepper (to taste).
• Form golf-ball sized meatballs.
• Heat 2 tbsp of Vegetable Oil (4 tablespoon) in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry balls in batches for 2 minutes on each side, or until completely cooked through.
• Warm Pita Bread (8) in a dry pan for 2 minutes.
• Combine cucumbers, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and fresh parsley together with Olive Oil (1 tablespoon), Salt (to taste), and Ground Black Pepper (to taste).
• Top each pita with Plain Greek Yogurt (1/2 cup), 1-2 meatballs (depending on the size of the pita), and salad.

MEATBALL PITA POCKETS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine cucumber, tomato, onion, olive oil, vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper. Cover and marinate in refrigerator a few hours or overnight.
• In a small bowl combine egg, bread crumbs, milk, the 2 tbsp onion, allspice and pepper to taste. Add beef and pork and mix well. Shape into 24 meatballs.
• Place meatballs in a baking dish in a single layer. Bake at 375F for 25 minutes or till done. Drain well on paper toweling.
• To assemble sandwiches, place 3 meatballs into each pita bread half. Top with some of the cucumber and tomato mixture and a little of the marinating liquid.

MEATBALL PITA SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine tomato sauce, hot sauce, ground cumin, and ground cinnamon. In another small bowl, combine yogurt, mint leaves, and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Fill pitas with lettuce leaves, meatballs and onion. Top with tomato and yogurt sauces and serve.

MEDITERRANEAN KOFTA MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Place onion, parsley, mint, oregano and garlic in bowl of food processor. Pulse until minced. In large bowl, combine herb mixture, lemon pepper, salt, paprika and cumin. Add lamb; mix lightly but thoroughly. With wet hands, shape into 16 balls. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Brown meatballs in batches; drain. Remove and keep warm. Serve meatballs over cooked couscous. Top with yogurt, tomato wedges, and red onion. Garnish with mint leaves and lemon wedges.

MEDITERRANEAN MEATBALL PITA SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray.Put the spinach in a large microwave-safe bowl and microwave according to the package instructions until cooked. Let cool slightly.Add the turkey, breadcrumbs, cumin, garlic, carrot, egg, 1 tablespoon of the dill, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Mix with your hands until just combined. Scoop mounds of the meat mixture (about 2 tablespoons each) onto the prepared baking sheet. With damp hands, roll the mounds into balls and space them evenly apart on the baking sheet. Bake until cooked through, 12 to 14 minutes.Meanwhile, stir together the yogurt, lemon juice and remaining dill in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.Serve 3 meatballs in each pita half. Pack in shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes. Drizzle with the yogurt sauce.Source: foodnetwork.comRecipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.

MEDITERRANEAN TURKEY MEATBALL SANDWICHES (PITA OR WRAP)

Steps:

• Combine turkey meatball ingredients; mix well. Shape into 18 (1 1/4") balls.
• Using skillet coated with non-stick cooking spray, cook meatballs 8 to 10 minutes or until browned and no longer pink in center; stir occasionally.
• Combine sauce ingredients.
• Place 3 meatballs in each pita half. Add lettuce and tomato. Top with sauce.
• Alternatively, place filling in a flour tortilla, and fold burrito style for a wrap!
• Serves 6.

MEDITERRANEAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or foil.
• Combine ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, onion, garlic, rosemary, parsley, oregano, dill, coriander, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix using your hands until just blended.
• Form meat mixture into balls, about 1 1/2 inches diameter, and place onto the prepared pan.
• Spray meatballs with cooking spray, place in the preheated oven, and bake until the meatballs are browned and no longer pink in the center, about 40 minutes.
• Remove meatballs from the oven and allow to cool slightly on a paper towel lined plate. Garnish with additional fresh parsley for serving.