Description
A vibrant and healthy Mediterranean bowl featuring flavorful ground turkey meatballs, fresh vegetables, quinoa or brown rice, and creamy tzatziki sauce. This balanced dish is perfect for a nutritious and satisfying meal inspired by Mediterranean flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Bowl Assembly
- 1 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup tzatziki sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- Fresh lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, fresh parsley, dried oregano, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Form Meatballs: Shape the mixture into small meatballs, approximately 1 inch in diameter, ensuring they are uniform in size for even cooking.
- Cook Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the meatballs. Cook them, turning occasionally, until all sides are browned and the meatballs are cooked through, about 10 to 12 minutes.
- Prepare the Base and Vegetables: While the meatballs are cooking, prepare the quinoa or brown rice according to package instructions if not pre-cooked. Dice the cucumber, halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the kalamata olives, and thinly slice the red onion.
- Assemble the Bowls: Distribute the cooked quinoa or brown rice evenly among serving bowls. Arrange the cooked turkey meatballs on top, followed by cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, kalamata olives, red onion slices, and crumbled feta cheese.
- Add Tzatziki and Garnish: Drizzle tzatziki sauce over the assembled bowl and garnish with fresh lemon wedges. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For a dairy-free option, omit the feta cheese and use a dairy-free tzatziki alternative.
- Ground turkey can be substituted with ground chicken or lamb for different flavor profiles.
- Make sure to cook the quinoa or brown rice ahead of time or use pre-cooked to save time.
- For added spice, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meatball mixture.
- Tzatziki sauce can be homemade with Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, and dill for fresher taste.
