Mediterranean Meatball Pitas Food

KOFTEDES GREEK MEATBALLS

Steps:

• If serving in bowls as suggested in this post, first prepare the Greek salad according to this recipe (dress salad later, if you prefer) and Tzatziki sauce according to this recipe. Set aside or refrigerate for now.
• In a large skillet like this one, heat 2 tbsp Private Reserve olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until golden and translucent, stirring regularly. Transfer the onions and garlic mixture to a large mixing bowl to cool. Set skillet aside for later.
• Wring the excess milk out of the soaked bread. Add the bread to the mixing bowl.
• To the mixing bowl add the ground beef and lamb (or pork), 1 egg, fresh mint, spices, salt and pepper, and 1 tbsp lemon zest. Mix by hand until until mixture is fully incorporated.
• Form the meat mixture into balls (each the size of a heaping tablespoon.) Roll meatballs into the flour to lightly coat and place them on a large tray for now.
• In the large skillet you used earlier, add 1/4 cup Private Reserve olive oil. Heat over medium-high. Turn heat to medium and add the meatballs to cook (do this in batches if you need to.) Cook meatballs for 10 minutes or so, turning occasionally, until fully cooked and well-crusted on all sides.
• With a slotted spoon, remove meatballs from skillet onto paper towels to drain any excess fat. Meanwhile, carefully discard most of the cooking fat from skillet (best to dump into a tin can until cooled). Return skillet to stove-top over medium heat.
• Whisk the 1 egg yolk with the chicken broth and lemon juice. Add to cooking skillet with the remaining lemon zest, then add the meatballs back in. Cook over medium heat for another 5 minutes until the lemon sauce thickens.
• Serve hot in bowls with pita bread, Greek salad and Tzatziki sauce. Or serve in pita pockets as sandwiches, if you prefer.

MEDITERRANEAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• For the sauce: Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add oil, onion and garlic and sweat down until onion starts to give up some liquid, about 5 minutes. Deglaze pan with red wine, then reduce by half. Add tomatoes, parsley, mint, oregano, chile flakes and bay leaf and bring to a simmer. Let simmer about 20 minutes.
• For the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Combine the almonds, parsley, raisins, mint, garlic powder, salt, pepper and chile flakes in a food processor. Pulse until fine. Transfer to a large bowl and add the oil and egg and mix well. Add beef and rice and blend. Portion into golf ball-sized meatballs and put on a sheet pan. Roast until done, 12 to 15 minutes. Pour sauce over meatballs and serve.

MEDITERRANEAN MEATBALL PITAS

Steps:

• Finely dice White Onion (3/4) and Garlic (4 clove).
• Add oil to a frying pan on medium-high heat. Saute onions, garlic, and Ground Cumin (1 teaspoon) for 5 minutes.
• Season onion mixture with Salt (to taste) and Ground Black Pepper (to taste) before setting aside to cool.
• Thinly slice Red Onion (1/4) and dice Lebanese Cucumber (2).
• Thinly slice Fresh Parsley (1/2 cup).
• Halve Cherry Tomato (8) and scoop out the seeds from the tomatoes before dicing.
• Combine Ground Beef (1 pound), Egg (1), cooked onions and garlic, Breadcrumbs (2 tablespoon), Plain Greek Yogurt (2 tablespoon), Salt (to taste), and Ground Black Pepper (to taste).
• Form golf-ball sized meatballs.
• Heat 2 tbsp of Vegetable Oil (4 tablespoon) in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry balls in batches for 2 minutes on each side, or until completely cooked through.
• Warm Pita Bread (8) in a dry pan for 2 minutes.
• Combine cucumbers, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and fresh parsley together with Olive Oil (1 tablespoon), Salt (to taste), and Ground Black Pepper (to taste).
• Top each pita with Plain Greek Yogurt (1/2 cup), 1-2 meatballs (depending on the size of the pita), and salad.

EAT-YOUR-VEGGIES MEDITERRANEAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray.
• Put the spinach in a large microwave-safe bowl and microwave according to the package instructions until cooked. Let cool slightly.
• Add the turkey, breadcrumbs, cumin, garlic, carrot, egg, 1 tablespoon of the dill, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Mix with your hands until just combined. Scoop mounds of the meat mixture (about 2 tablespoons each) onto the prepared baking sheet. With damp hands, roll the mounds into balls and space them evenly apart on the baking sheet. Bake until cooked through, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir together the yogurt, lemon juice and remaining dill in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve 3 meatballs in each pita half. Pack in shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes. Drizzle with the yogurt sauce.

MEDITERRANEAN TURKEY MEATBALL SANDWICHES (PITA OR WRAP)

Steps:

• Combine turkey meatball ingredients; mix well. Shape into 18 (1 1/4") balls.
• Using skillet coated with non-stick cooking spray, cook meatballs 8 to 10 minutes or until browned and no longer pink in center; stir occasionally.
• Combine sauce ingredients.
• Place 3 meatballs in each pita half. Add lettuce and tomato. Top with sauce.
• Alternatively, place filling in a flour tortilla, and fold burrito style for a wrap!
• Serves 6.

MEDITERRANEAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or foil.
• Combine ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, onion, garlic, rosemary, parsley, oregano, dill, coriander, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix using your hands until just blended.
• Form meat mixture into balls, about 1 1/2 inches diameter, and place onto the prepared pan.
• Spray meatballs with cooking spray, place in the preheated oven, and bake until the meatballs are browned and no longer pink in the center, about 40 minutes.
• Remove meatballs from the oven and allow to cool slightly on a paper towel lined plate. Garnish with additional fresh parsley for serving.

MEDITERRANEAN MEATBALL SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine onion, parsley, salt and pepper. Add beef; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into four 4x2-in. oblong patties., Grill patties, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat 4-6 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 160°. Serve on pitas with tzatziki sauce and toppings as desired.