Cucumber yogurt sauce is very common in Middle Eastern food, especially with kabobs. This dish is somewhere between Middle Easter lamb kabobs and Greek lamb souvlaki. Whatever you want to call it- this was delicious!
One ingredient I used is called Labneh. Labneh is basically strained yogurt, so it is very thick. There may be other processes involved so thicken more and make it creamier. It is similar to Greek yogurt that you find in The States, but a little thicker higher in fat. If you cannot find Labneh, plain Greek yogurt is a good substitute. You could also use a mixture of Greek yogurt and cream cheese. I use dill in the meatballs and sauce, but you can substitute mint.
What you'll need:
For the meatballs:
- 3/4 pound lean minced lamb
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp bread crumbs
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 1 red chili, deseeded and finely chopped
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill (or mint)
- 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- pinch of salt and pepper
For the sauce:
- 1/2 cup light Labneh (or Greek Yogurt)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 medium cucumber
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh dill (or mint)
-pinch of salt and pepper
- 4 whole wheat pitas, sliced in half and opened
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced green pepper and red onion (optional)
- 4 tomato slices (optional)
- shredded lettuce (optional)
What to do:
1. Use 1 tsp olive oil to saute shallots and red chili. After about 3 minutes, turn off heat and add parsley and dill. Let cool slightly. Mix meat, egg, bread crumbs, shallot mixture, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Let rest in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
2. Deseed the cucumber. Depending on how chunky you want your sauce, you can either finely chop the cucumber by hand or use a food processor to mince it. When finished, mix with the Labneh (or yogurt), garlic, dill, salt, and pepper.
3. In a large, flat saute pan, heat the remaining olive oil. When hot, add the meatballs. Let the meatballs brown on each side, then lower the heat to allow the meat to cook on the inside.
4. Stuff each pita half with 2 tbsp shredded lettuce, a few slices of green pepper and red onion, and a slice of tomato if desired; 2 meatballs, and 2 - 3 tbsp Tzatziki sauce.
One ingredient I used is called Labneh. Labneh is basically strained yogurt, so it is very thick. There may be other processes involved so thicken more and make it creamier. It is similar to Greek yogurt that you find in The States, but a little thicker higher in fat. If you cannot find Labneh, plain Greek yogurt is a good substitute. You could also use a mixture of Greek yogurt and cream cheese. I use dill in the meatballs and sauce, but you can substitute mint.
Pita Stuffed with Lamb Meatballs and Tzatziki Sauce
What you'll need:
For the meatballs:
- 3/4 pound lean minced lamb
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp bread crumbs
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 1 red chili, deseeded and finely chopped
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill (or mint)
- 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- pinch of salt and pepper
For the sauce:
- 1/2 cup light Labneh (or Greek Yogurt)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 medium cucumber
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh dill (or mint)
-pinch of salt and pepper
- 4 whole wheat pitas, sliced in half and opened
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced green pepper and red onion (optional)
- 4 tomato slices (optional)
- shredded lettuce (optional)
What to do:
1. Use 1 tsp olive oil to saute shallots and red chili. After about 3 minutes, turn off heat and add parsley and dill. Let cool slightly. Mix meat, egg, bread crumbs, shallot mixture, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Let rest in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
2. Deseed the cucumber. Depending on how chunky you want your sauce, you can either finely chop the cucumber by hand or use a food processor to mince it. When finished, mix with the Labneh (or yogurt), garlic, dill, salt, and pepper.
3. In a large, flat saute pan, heat the remaining olive oil. When hot, add the meatballs. Let the meatballs brown on each side, then lower the heat to allow the meat to cook on the inside.
4. Stuff each pita half with 2 tbsp shredded lettuce, a few slices of green pepper and red onion, and a slice of tomato if desired; 2 meatballs, and 2 - 3 tbsp Tzatziki sauce.
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