Chicken Gyro Meatball Salad
Meatball dinner idea: Healthy, flavorful chicken meatball salad, topped with tasty spiced meatballs, chopped veggies and a lemon tahini sauce or tzatziki.
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 pound (450 g) ground chicken thigh meat
- 1/4 cup (40 g) grated onion
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped or grated fresh garlic
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) ground paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Tahini Dressing
- ¼ cup (60 ml) fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 garlic clove finely chopped
- ¼ cup (60 ml) tahini paste
- ¼ cup (60 ml) cold water
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
Salad
- 5 ounces (140 g) baby salad greens or torn butter lettuce
- 3 baby Persian cucumbers sliced into 1/2-inch chunks
- 1 pint (310 g) cherry tomatoes halved or quartered
- 1 cup seeded and chopped red bell pepper
- ½ red onion sliced into thin half-moons
- ¾ cup (115 g) crumbled feta cheese
- Pita bread or flatbread for serving
- Green sauce optional
Instructions
Make the meatballs
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Combine the chicken, onion, garlic and spices in a large bowl. Use damp hands to form approximately 36 1-inch meatballs. Arrange them on an oiled baking sheet.
- Bake 15-20 minutes, turning once or twice, until the meatballs are browned and cooked through (they will be firm to the touch).
Make the Tahini Dressing
- Combine all ingredients in a mini food processor, or whisk in a medium bowl until smooth.
Assemble the salad
- Toss the greens, cucumbers, red pepper, onion and feta cheese in a serving bowl with 2 tablespoons of the dressing.
- Serve with the meatballs on top of the salad and drizzle with additional dressing and green sauce. Serve with warm pita or flatbread if you like.
Notes
- Refrigerate leftover tahini dressing for up to a week. Stir in a tablespoon or so of cold water to loosen if necessary.
- Meatballs may be made 3-5 days ahead of serving. Warm them slightly in a microwave (30-60 seconds) or in a heated pan on the stovetop before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 497kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 30gFat: 35gSodium: 773mgFiber: 5gSugar: 8g
