Greek Meatballs with Homemade Tzatziki
Greek Meatballs with Homemade Tzatziki
Course: Lunch, Dinner
Ingredients:
For the Greek Meatballs:
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried mint
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 large egg, beaten
Olive oil for cooking
For the Rice:
1 cup long-grain rice
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
Salt, to taste
For the Tzatziki Sauce:
1 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Squeeze of lemon juice (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef with breadcrumbs, chopped red onion, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried mint, ground cumin, salt, pepper, and beaten egg. Mix until well combined.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper then shape the mixture into meatballs, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. Place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
While the meatballs are baking, prepare the rice. In a medium saucepan, bring the broth to a boil. Add the rice and a pinch of salt. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed the liquid.
For the tzatziki sauce, in a bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, finely chopped cucumber, minced garlic, chopped dill, olive oil, salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice if desired. Mix well.
Serve the Greek meatballs over a bed of cooked rice and drizzle with tzatziki sauce.
Garnish with additional fresh dill and serve immediately.