Turkish Meatballs
with cucumber & yogurt and pita
Ingredients
- Onion - 1/2, diced
- Garlic cloves - 3, crushed or minced
- Parsley - 1/2 bunch, minced
- Ground beef and lamb - 2 1/2 lbs ((Choose any ratio or sub ground chicken or turkey))
- Cumin - 1 Tbsp
- Za'atar - 1 Tbsp
- Salt - 1 tsp + 1/4 tsp
- Chili powder - 1/2 tsp
- Skewers (opt) - 16
- Persian cucumbers - 1/2 lb, chopped
- Plain yogurt - 2 cups
- Lemon - 1/2 , juice of
- Pita or flatbread - 4
Nutrition Facts
Prep
- Onions / Garlic / Parsley - Prep as directed. (Can be done up to 3 days ahead)
- Meatballs - Mix together onions, garlic, and parsley with ground meat, cumin, za'atar, first part of salt, and chili powder. If you want to taste the meat for seasoning, make a small ball, and microwave it for 1 minute. Roll into long meatballs. Skewer if desired. (Can be done up to 1 day ahead)
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Make
- Preheat oven to 425F (232C) degrees. Line a sheet pan with foil and then layer in cooling rack. Place meatballs onto cooling rack and bake for 12 to 16 minutes, rotating once midway through.
- While meat is cooking, chop cucumbers. Mix with yogurt, lemon juice, and second part of salt.
- Toast pitas right before serving. Save about 2/3 of the meatballs for tomorrow night's dinner and enjoy the rest tonight with pitas and cucumber & yogurt!
Nutrition Facts
Reviews
Ratings
50 reviews
Really liked it! Will add a lot more za'atar and a little more salt next time. Used 1 lb grass fed beef and 2 lbs lamb. Cooked directly on foil (not on a rack) and was moist.
0 HelpfulUsed about 1/3 lamb to 2/3 lean beef, and only needed about 1 cup of yogurt. We really enjoyed this meal, but like some of the other commenters, the meatballs were too large and took a really long time to cook. I'd recommend doing 8 skinnier "balls" rather than 4 larger ones.
0 HelpfulI was able to find lamb at my local butcher's shop. It's not something they have out on the display so I had to ask for it. Went roughly half and half with lamb and ground beef. This tastes just like how my husband and I remember it from our various travels. We're both fans! It's very filling and pretty easy to put together.
0 HelpfulWe made this to use up the rest of the yogurt from the Mediterranean Chicken Packets recipe. Yum. I couldn't find Za'atar anywhere, until the local co-op suggested Mediterranean Specialties. I have been living here for 2 years and had no idea that store existed. Well let me tell you, it was a happy accident to find it! Thanks to this recipe, we found a gem of a little shop and cafe in town :) And Za'atar is, as my cashier said, like crack. It's so good.
0 Helpful