Greek Bowl with Meatballs (2024)

Every time I make this Greek Bowl I think to myself 'I should definitely make this more often' and Don agrees. We LITERALLY can't get enough of the Mediterranean flavors in this bowl recipe. But don't just take my word for it. Read what others are saying about this recipe...

WHAT IS TZATZIKI SAUCE

Tzatziki(zäd-ˈzē-kē) is a refreshing, creamy Greek yogurt sauce with cucumbers, fresh garlic, salt, olive oil, lemon juice, and dill or sometimes mint or parsley.Tzatziki is a versatile sauce perfect for topping many Mediterranean dishes such as my Greek Pita Pizza, Gyros Salad with Chicken, and even Greek Style Pork Chops!

It also makes a tasty dip with warm pita bread, vegetables, or just about anything you can think of that will get the Tzatziki sauce in your mouth!

HOW TO MAKE TZATZIKI SAUCE

1. Combine 1 cup Greek yogurt with 1/4 cup grated cucumber, 1 teaspoon freshly minced garlic, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon fresh dill, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Mix in 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice and stir to combine. Give it a taste and adjust the flavors to your liking. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

TIPS:

• For best results, I recommend preparing Tzatziki sauce early in the day or the day before.
• Additionally, I prefer to use an English cucumber which is sometimes called hothouse cucumber or seedless cucumber.

HOW TO MAKE MEDITERRANEAN MEATBALLS

1. Preheat oven to 425°F
2. Combine 1/4 cup crushed pork rinds with 1 egg. I like using pork rinds because they are low in carbs and add so much moisture to the meatballs, but you can use leftover bread torn into small pieces if you prefer.
3. To the egg mixture add 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley, 1 tablespoon freshly minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper and mix to combine.
4. Add 1 pound ground chuck and stir with a wooden spoon (or use your hands) to distribute the seasoned pork rind mixture throughout the beef
5. Form into meatballs. I use a medium size scoopfor uniform size and then roll into a ball. Place seasoned meatballs on a lightly greased baking tray. Alternatively, use agreased rack set inside a baking sheet. Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 10 minutes or until cooked through and no longer pink inside. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your meatballs. Rest meatballs 5-10 minutes before serving.

HOW TO MAKE CUCUMBER TOMATO SALAD

1. While the meatballs are cooking, dice 1 cup cucumbers, 1 cup tomatoes, 1/2 cup red onion, and a tablespoon of flat leaf parsley. Combine in a serving dish. Salt & pepper to taste.

TIP: For best results, I recommend using an English cucumber which is sometimes called hothouse cucumber or seedless cucumber.

HOW TO MAKE COUSCOUS

Couscous is very quick and easy to make. In fact, I wait until the meatballs are out of the oven and resting before I start the couscous. It's that quick!

1. While the meatballs are resting, bring 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon butter, & 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add 1 cup couscous, cover, and remove from the heat. Let stand for 4 minutes and then fluff with a fork. Squeeze the juice of 1/2 a lemon into the couscous. Give it a taste and adjust the salt & pepper to your liking.

GREEK BOWL ASSEMBLY

Now that all of the components for the Greek bowl are made, all that's left to do is assemble the Greek bowl, serve, and enjoy! You can, of course, put the different components on the table to let everyone help themselves or serve the Greek Bowls already assembled. I like to assemble before serving to ensure each bowl has the proper ratio of ingredients.

1. To assemble the Greek Bowls, spoon 1/2 cup couscous into each of 4 serving bowls. Top with about a 1/4 cup of the tomato cucumber salad and 4 meatballs. Sprinkle on a tablespoon of Feta cheese (or as much as you like) and drizzle with Tzatziki sauce. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and enjoy!