Description
A vibrant Mediterranean bowl featuring flavorful ground turkey meatballs served over quinoa or brown rice, topped with fresh vegetables, olives, crumbled feta, and creamy tzatziki sauce. This well-balanced dish combines lean protein with wholesome grains and Mediterranean flavors, perfect for a healthy and satisfying meal in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
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 Ingredients
- 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 meatball mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, chopped parsley, dried oregano, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix everything thoroughly until well combined to ensure even seasoning.
- Form meatballs: Shape the mixture into small meatballs about 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. Add the meatballs and cook them, turning occasionally, until they are evenly browned on all sides and cooked through, about 10-12 minutes.
- Prepare grains and vegetables: While the meatballs cook, prepare the quinoa or brown rice according to package instructions if not already cooked. Chop the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, slice the kalamata olives and red onion.
- Assemble bowls: Divide the cooked quinoa or brown rice among serving bowls. Arrange the cooked turkey meatballs over the grains. Top with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, red onion, and crumbled feta cheese.
- Add sauce and garnish: Drizzle tzatziki sauce generously over the bowls and garnish with fresh lemon wedges. Serve immediately for a fresh, delicious Mediterranean meal.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey with ground chicken or lean beef if preferred.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meatball mixture.
- If you don’t have tzatziki sauce, Greek yogurt mixed with cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, and dill makes a great homemade alternative.
- Leftover meatballs and bowl ingredients can be stored separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Serve with warm pita bread or a side salad for a complete meal.
