Gyro Bowls with Tzatziki (Print Version)

Juicy lamb meatballs, cooling tzatziki, zesty lemon rice, and fresh cucumber salad come together in one delectable Mediterranean bowl.

# Ingredients:

→ For the Meatballs

01 - 1 pound ground lamb, beef, or pork (lamb preferred)
02 - ¼ cup minced onion
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 large egg
05 - ½ cup finely crumbled feta cheese
06 - 1 teaspoon Greek seasoning
07 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ For the Tzatziki

08 - 1-2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
09 - ¼ teaspoon salt, to taste
10 - ½ European cucumber, peeled, grated, drained
11 - 1 cup plain yogurt, drained
12 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
13 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
14 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
15 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ For the Lemon Rice

16 - 2 cups cooked rice, white or brown
17 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
18 - ¼ teaspoon salt, to taste

→ For the Cucumber & Tomato Salad

19 - 1 cup tomatoes, diced, halved, or chopped
20 - 1 cup diced cucumber, drained
21 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
22 - ½ teaspoon salt, to taste

→ Recommended Garnishes

23 - Hummus
24 - Crumbled feta
25 - Chopped dill
26 - Chopped parsley
27 - Sumac
28 - Pitas

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 425° Fahrenheit. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Spray lightly with cooking spray and set aside.
02 - Add all meatball ingredients to large mixing bowl. Using your hands, gently mix together until uniformly combined.
03 - Divide mixture into even portions using a scoop with release handle. Roll each portion between palms to form meatballs, then place on lined baking sheet. Repeat until all mixture has been formed into 14-20 meatballs.
04 - Place baking sheet in preheated oven. Bake 10-14 minutes or until meatballs are nicely browned and cooked through.
05 - Place garlic on cutting board. Sprinkle salt over garlic then use back of fork to mash garlic into paste.
06 - Add garlic paste, drained cucumber, drained yogurt, mint and/or dill, black pepper, and olive oil to medium bowl. Stir well to combine all ingredients, then taste and adjust salt as needed.
07 - Add cooked rice, lemon juice, and salt to medium mixing bowl. Stir well to thoroughly incorporate ingredients, then taste and adjust lemon juice and salt as needed.
08 - Add tomatoes, cucumber, olive oil, and salt to small mixing bowl. Gently stir to distribute ingredients, then taste and adjust salt as needed.
09 - Divide rice evenly into serving bowls. Top rice with meatballs, tzatziki, cucumber & tomato salad, and any desired garnishes. Serve immediately.

# Notes:

01 - To drain water from cucumbers: Peel and grate/dice cucumbers. Squeeze as much water as possible out using paper towels. Place in colander, sprinkle liberally with salt, and let rest for 20 minutes. Press or blot with fresh paper towels to remove any remaining liquid.
02 - For the tzatziki, you can use both fresh mint and dill, or choose just one herb based on preference.

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