Description
Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce offer a delicious blend of warm spices, fresh herbs, and tangy feta cheese, served alongside a refreshing cucumber-yogurt dip. Perfect for a flavorful dinner or an elegant appetizer, this recipe combines lean ground beef with aromatic seasonings and a creamy homemade tzatziki sauce.
Ingredients
Greek Meatballs
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs or gluten-free breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
- 3 tablespoons grated onion
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- Zest of a lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 cup shredded cucumber, liquid squeezed out
- 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt
- Juice of half a lemon
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- 1/2 teaspoon grated garlic or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste (about 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 450°F (232°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and lightly spray it with cooking oil to prevent sticking.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together panko breadcrumbs, chopped parsley, grated onion, grated garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, egg, dried oregano, ground coriander, ground cumin, ground cinnamon, salt, pepper, and crumbled feta cheese.
- Add Ground Beef: Incorporate the ground beef into the mixture and combine gently with your hands, being careful not to overwork the meat to keep meatballs tender.
- Form Meatballs: Shape the mixture into approximately tablespoon-sized meatballs and arrange them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Prepare for Baking: Spray or brush the tops of the meatballs with olive oil to help them brown beautifully in the oven.
- Bake Meatballs: Place the baking sheet in the center rack of the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the meatballs are golden brown and cooked through.
- Make Tzatziki Sauce: While the meatballs bake, combine shredded cucumber (with liquid squeezed out), Greek yogurt, lemon juice, fresh dill, grated garlic, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Stir until well mixed and creamy.
- Serve: Once the meatballs are done, remove from the oven and serve warm alongside the fresh, tangy tzatziki sauce.
Notes
- Ensure the shredded cucumber is well drained to avoid watery tzatziki.
- Use gluten-free breadcrumbs if you need a gluten-free option.
- Handle the meat mixture gently to keep the meatballs tender and juicy.
- Optional: Garnish meatballs with extra fresh parsley or feta for presentation.
- The baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven; check meatballs around 10 minutes for doneness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
