Lamb Meatballs with Tzatziki & Mint Gremolata Recipe
These meatballs are bright and herbaceous enough on their own, but tzatziki and zingy gremolata really liven up the party. Feel free to swap out the lamb for ground beef or turkey.
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground lamb you can also use ground beef or turkey instead
- 1/2 cup panko
- 1/2 cup parsley
- 1 egg
- 3 garlic cloves grated
- 1/2 medium white onion grated
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- pita and lemon wedges optional - for serving
Tzatziki
- 1 cup greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup english cucumber grated
- 2 garlic cloves grated
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup dill chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
Mint Gremolata
- 3 tbsp mint finely chopped
- 1 tbsp dill finely chopped
- 1 lemon zest of entire lemon and juice of 1/2 lemon
- 3 garlic cloves grated
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- salt to taste
Instructions
Tzatziki
- Add grated cucumber to a clean dish cloth or cheese cloth and squeeze out as much liquid as you can.
- Add cucumber to bowl with remaining Tzatziki ingredients and mix well. Season with salt as needed and refrigerate until ready to use.
Meatballs
- Preheat oven to 400F. In a medium bowl, combine ground lamb, panko, parsley, egg, grated garlic and onion, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment and form meat mixture into golfball-size meatballs. Place meatballs on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, flipping meatballs at 9-10 minute mark, until cooked through (meatballs will take on slight color). Be sure not to overcook them, as they will become tough.
Mint Gremolata
- While the meatballs bake, whisk all gremolata ingredients in a small bowl until well combined. Season with salt as needed.
Assembly
- Spoon and smear Tzatziki on a plate, add a few meatballs, spoon over gremolata and serve with warm pita and lemon wedges.
