Description
A flavorful Mediterranean bowl featuring juicy ground turkey meatballs baked to perfection and served with fresh cucumbers, Kalamata olives, creamy tzatziki sauce, fragrant dill, and a choice of rice or pearl couscous. This dish combines wholesome ingredients for a healthy, satisfying meal inspired by Mediterranean flavors.
Ingredients
For Turkey Meatballs
- 1 pound ground turkey
- ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs or blanched almond flour
- ¾ cup yellow onion, chopped
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoon garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For Serving
- Chopped cucumbers
- Kalamata olives
- Tzatziki sauce
- Fresh dill
- Lemon wedges or slices
- Cooked rice or pearl couscous
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it’s at the right temperature for baking your meatballs evenly and to get a nice finish.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, Italian breadcrumbs (or almond flour), chopped yellow onion, egg, minced garlic, kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly to evenly distribute the flavors.
- Form Meatballs: Shape the mixture into 2-inch diameter balls, about 2 tablespoons of mixture each, to make roughly 16 meatballs for even cooking.
- Bake Meatballs: Place the meatballs on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. For a nicely browned top, switch the oven to broil on high for the last 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Assemble the Bowl: Start with a base of your preferred cooked grain such as rice or pearl couscous. Add the baked turkey meatballs on top, then layer with chopped cucumbers, Kalamata olives, a generous spoonful of tzatziki sauce, fresh dill, and finish with a drizzle of freshly squeezed lemon juice for brightness and extra flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute Italian breadcrumbs with blanched almond flour for a gluten-free option.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt, if using salted olives or salty cheese additions.
- The broiling step gives the meatballs a nice crust but watch closely to prevent burning.
- Leftover meatballs can be reheated in an oven or skillet for best texture retention.
- Tzatziki sauce can be homemade or store-bought for convenience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
