Greek Meatballs
A fresh and sunny summer dish! These spiced meatballs pair perfectly with lemony orzo and a creamy whipped feta sauce. Quick to prepare and bursting with flavour, this recipe shines thanks to delicious Canadian dairy. The perfect meal for warm days!
- Prep: 25 min
- Grilling: 12 min
Ingredients
- For the meatballs
- 3 ¼ cups (400 g) ground beef
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- ½ red onion, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup (50 g) breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp (5 ml) ground cumin
- 1 tsp (5 ml) paprika
- 1 tsp (5 ml) dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 egg
- For the whipped feta sauce
-
1 cup (150 g) Tre Stelle Canadian feta
-
1 cup (150 g) Canadian Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- For the lemon orzo
- 1 ½ cups (250 g) orzo
- 1 tsp (5 ml) Canadian butter
- 4 ¼ cups (1 L) vegetable broth
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- To garnish
- A drizzle of lemon juice
- A few fresh mint leaves, chopped
Make it with Canadian Dairy
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Preparation
In a bowl, combine the ground beef with garlic, red onion, breadcrumbs, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and the egg. Mix well using your hands or a spoon until evenly blended.
Shape into meatballs about 4 cm in diameter by rolling them between your palms. Cook over medium heat, turning regularly for even cooking. It should take about 10 to 12 minutes. The meatballs should be golden brown on the outside and fully cooked inside. Once done, remove from the pan and drain any excess fat if needed.
To make the sauce, blend the Greek yogurt, feta, lemon juice, and a bit of pepper in a mixer. The texture will be slightly grainy.
Add the orzo to a hot pan with the butter. Lightly toast for 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add hot vegetable broth, one ladle at a time, stirring often. Add the finely grated zest and juice of one lemon during cooking. The orzo should be tender and have absorbed most of the liquid (about 10 to 12 minutes of cooking time).
Serve the meatballs on a bed of orzo, topped with the whipped feta, a drizzle of lemon juice, and chopped fresh mint.
