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Juicy grilled Mediterranean meatball skewers served on dollops of fresh tzatziki sauce with diced red and yellow bell pepper relish.

Meatball Skewers Recipe

Juicy, spice-infused Greek lamb meatball skewers cooked to perfection and served on dollops of fresh homemade tzatziki sauce, finished with a diced bell pepper and herb relish.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings: 15
Calories: 185
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Lamb Meatballs:
  • - 1 lb 450g ground lamb (or 90% lean ground beef)
  • - 1/2 medium red onion very finely minced
  • - 2 cloves garlic minced
  • - 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley finely chopped
  • - 1 tsp ground cumin
  • - 1 tsp ground coriander
  • - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • - 1/2 tsp salt
  • - 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • - Pinch cayenne pepper optional
  • - 1-2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil for brushing
For the Creamy Herb Tzatziki Base:
  • - 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
  • - 1/2 English cucumber grated and squeezed dry
  • - 1 clove garlic finely pressed
  • - 1 tbsp fresh dill or mint finely chopped
  • - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • - 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • - Salt to taste
For the Relish Garnish:
  • - 1/4 cup red and yellow bell peppers finely diced
  • - 1/4 cup red onion finely diced
  • - Fresh flat-leaf parsley or cilantro leaves for garnish
  • - 12-15 bamboo paddle skewers soaked in water for 30 minutes

Method
 

Prepare Tzatziki:
  1. Combine Greek yogurt, squeezed cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, dill, and salt in a bowl. Mix thoroughly, cover, and chill in the refrigerator.
Shape & Skewer:
  1. Combine ground lamb, minced onion, garlic, parsley, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix gently until uniform. Shape into 12-15 oval meatballs. Thread each meatball lengthwise onto a soaked paddle skewer. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes.
Grill Skewers:
  1. Heat a cast-iron grill pan over medium-high heat (400°F / 200°C). Brush skewers lightly with olive oil. Grill for 3-4 minutes per side (10-12 minutes total) until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
Assemble & Serve:
  1. Spoon dollops of Tzatziki onto a wooden serving board. Place a hot meatball skewer on top of each dollop. Top with diced pepper relish and fresh parsley leaves. Serve immediately.

Notes

- Dairy-Free Option: Use plain unsweetened coconut Greek-style yogurt in place of dairy yogurt.
- Oven Baking: Bake on a parchment-lined sheet pan at 400°F (200°C) for 18-20 minutes, then broil for 2 minutes.
- Air Fryer Option: Air fry at 380°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes, turning midway through.