Meatball Souvlaki

This recipe for Meatball Souvlaki makes a delicious dinner of roasted meatballs and vegetables. Souvlaki or souvlakia is a popular Greek fast food consisting of small pieces of meat and sometimes vegetables grilled on a skewer. It may be served on the skewer for eating out of hand, in a pita sandwich, or on a dinner plate.

Yogurt Sauce:
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/3 cup chopped fresh mint
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Meatballs:
1/3 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1 large egg
1/3 cup water
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 pound lean ground beef
1 pound medium zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch rounds
1 medium red onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 plum tomatoes, cut into 4 wedges
Warmed pocketless pitas,
lettuce (optional)

1. Position racks to divide oven in thirds. Heat oven to 500ºF. You'll need 2 rimmed baking pans lined with nonstick foil.
2. Yogurt Sauce: Mix all sauce ingredients in medium bowl, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve with meatballs.
3. Meatballs: Stir bread crumbs, egg, water, minced onion, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper until blended. Add beef; stir with fork until thoroughly blended. Roll rounded tablespoonfuls into balls; place on a lined baking pan.
4. Put zucchini and red onion on other lined baking pan; toss with oil. Place vegetables on top rack, meatballs on bottom. Roast 20 minutes.
5. Remove pans from oven, turn browned vegetables over, then push to one side and add tomatoes; turn meatballs. Roast meatballs and vegetables 5 minutes more or until zucchini is tender; toss together.
6. Serve on pitas with lettuce if desired. Top with yogurt sauce.

(Makes 4 servings.)

Nutrients Per Serving: Calories 363, Protein 31g, Carbohydrates 17g, Dietary Fiber 3g, Total Fat 19g (Saturated Fat 9g), Cholesterol 132mg, Sodium 450mg.

Notes from Betty: To cut down on prep time, buy prepared turkey meatballs. Just roast for the last 10 minutes.