Baked Greek Lentil Meatballs with Tzatziki Recipe
These Baked Greek Lentil Meatballs with Tzatziki are an easy and flavorful vegetarian dish, combining protein-rich lentils with fresh herbs and a creamy yogurt sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 cup Brown Lentils (Can substitute with green lentils.)
- 1 cup Breadcrumbs (Try crushed whole grain crackers or gluten-free breadcrumbs.)
- 1/4 cup Parsley (Fresh; can substitute with cilantro.)
- 2 cloves Garlic (Minced.)
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
- Salt and Spices (Adjust to taste.)
Tzatziki
- 1 cup Greek Yogurt (Can substitute with plain dairy-free yogurt.)
- 1/2 cup Cucumber (Finely chopped.)
- 1 clove Garlic (Minced.)
Instructions
- Cook lentils: Rinse 1 cup of brown lentils under cold water, then cook in a pot with 4 cups of water for about 20-25 minutes until tender. Drain any excess water and let cool.
- Mix meatball ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled lentils with 1 cup of breadcrumbs, ¼ cup chopped parsley, 2 minced garlic cloves, and spices. Mix well until cohesive.
- Preheat oven and prepare meatballs: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll portions of the mixture into golf-ball-sized meatballs and arrange on the baking sheet.
- Bake meatballs: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 20 minutes until golden brown and slightly crispy on the outside.
- Prepare tzatziki sauce: While baking, prepare tzatziki by combining 1 cup Greek yogurt, ½ cup finely chopped cucumber, 1 crushed garlic clove, lemon juice, and salt in a bowl. Mix well.
- Serve: Once the meatballs are done, serve with tzatziki sauce for dipping or drizzling over them.
Notes
- Can substitute brown lentils with green lentils.
- Breadcrumbs can be replaced with crushed whole grain crackers or gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Parsley can be substituted with cilantro.
- Greek yogurt can be substituted with plain dairy-free yogurt.