Description
Golden baked lentil meatballs packed with herbs and warm spices, served with a cool and creamy homemade tzatziki. A wholesome Mediterranean-inspired dish that is hearty, satisfying, and perfect for weeknights or meal prep.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 cups cooked brown lentils, well drained
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup cucumber, finely grated and squeezed dry
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine Ingredients: Lightly pulse the lentils in a food processor, then mix with breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, and olive oil until evenly combined.
- Prepare Your Cooking Vessel: Lightly brush the parchment paper with a small amount of olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Assemble the Dish: Shape the mixture into 1 1/2 inch balls and arrange evenly spaced on the baking sheet.
- Cook to Perfection: Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown and firm to the touch.
- Finishing Touches: In a bowl, stir together Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. Chill until ready to serve.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the warm lentil meatballs with a generous spoonful of tzatziki on the side or on top.
Notes
- Drain lentils thoroughly to prevent a soft mixture.
- Squeeze excess moisture from the cucumber to keep the tzatziki thick and creamy.
- Let the mixture rest for 10 minutes before shaping for better binding.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 55mg