Mediterranean Meatball Pitas Recipes

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.

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.

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.