Anyone down for 3 recipes for the price of 1?! Spoiler alert...they're all free haha. But really, if you love greek food and do not save this recipe, then you're doing something wrong. These meatballs are a combination of venison (or beef) and pork with a TON of fresh herbs and are so dang good. PLUS they are super healthy. They are delicious in greek salad bowls and work well with pitas too. Combined with homemade tzatziki and hummus, need I say more?! These recipes are perfect for a week of greek meal prep! Or just to have some yummy hummus for snacks throughout the week. Either way, they're all good, no matter which way you use them. If you ask me, everyone should be making their own hummus- much cheaper and you know exactly what is going into it. Plus, you can customize it and have fun experimenting with different types while using this base- roasted red pepper, garlic, avocado, etc. I remember the first time I really got into hummus. I had never really eaten it much before my friend (Lauren, also a pharmacist) introduced me to it one summer. Ever since, it's definitely one of my go to snacks. I tend to get on trends where I eat a lot of it and always crave it and then sometimes where I don't eat it that consistently. But every time I start eating it again, I always ask myself why I wasn't eating it all along?! Seriously, one of the tastiest and easiest snacks to have on hand. Especially when you have delicious recipes like this one hand to make it in a hurry! Hope you enjoy a week of Greek on me. :)
Ingredients:
Serves: Makes 25-30 meatballs depending on size
MEATBALLS:
1 tbsp EVOO
1 lb ground venison (can use regular beef here if desired)
1 lb ground pork
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 small red onion, finely diced
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped; more for garnish
1 tbsp fresh mint, chopped; more for garnish
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tsp kosher salt
4 turns ground black pepper
TZATZIKI:
1/2 cup seedless cucumber, chopped
2 cloves fresh garlic
1/2 cup dill
1 cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt
Juice of one lemon
Salt to taste
HUMMUS:
1 can chickpeas, rinsed
1/3 cup good quality tahini
2 medium cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
2 tbsp EVOO, more to top
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 tsp ground cumin
3/4 tsp sea salt
2-4 tbsp cold water, more if needed
Additional toppings (optional): extra EVOO, chopped fresh parsley, and/or sprinkle of paprika or ground sumac
Note:
Gluten free
Dairy free (If leave out tzatziki or sub dairy-free yogurt)
Directions:
MEATBALLS:
Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. Grease a baking sheet with EVOO.
Combine the meat, fresh herbs, spices, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Use your hands to mix everything until well incorporated.
Use a cookie dough scoop or large spoon to scoop the meat mixture into balls and then roll them in between the palm of your hands. Make sure they are as evenly sized as possible. Place them on the greased sheet pan evenly apart.
Bake for 20 minutes. Check to make sure they are cooked all the way through and remove from oven and set aside.
TZATZIKI:
Add the cucumber, garlic, and dill to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
Add the cucumber mixture to the Greek yogurt and stir until well mixed.
Stir in the lemon juice and salt and store in the fridge until ready to serve. Serve it up with your favorite greek bowls or pitas!
HUMMUS:
Add tahini, cold water (start with 2 tbsp), EVOO, cumin, salt, garlic and lemon juice to a food processor. Puree until smooth.
Add in the chickpeas (after rinsing). Puree for 3 to 4 minutes. About halfway through, pause and scrape down the sides of the bowl and then finish pureeing.
When finished check the consistency. If it is still too thick, add another tbsp of water and puree again. Continue doing this until desired consistency is achieved. Hint: the longer it is pureed, the smoother it will be. I used a total of 4 tbsp in mine.
Once you reach your desired consistency, serve it up! It's a great addition to greek bowls, pitas, or with plain ol' veggies. Ya really can't go wrong!
Y'all. Please go try this recipe. Make it with salad bowls for your week or stuff some pitas. You'll thank me later! Super delicious dish with TONS of flavor and it's healthy. It doesn't get much better! Drop your comments below or tag me if you make it! (Instagram: @pharmtotable_enc) Until next time, Cheers!
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