These Mediterranean-inspired pita pockets are filled with baked turkey meatballs, creamy yogurt sauce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and feta cheese. Heat up the pitas to make them straightforward to fill. They’re a scrumptious summer time lunch or mild dinner you could eat along with your palms!
Juicy Turkey Meatball Pita Pockets
Let’s pack the flavors of summer time right into a pita pocket! I stuff heat pitas with juicy baked turkey meatballs, creamy yogurt sauce, and a shopska salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, and feta. If we haven’t eaten our entire stash of purple pepper relish but, I’ll add that, too. These pita pockets are significantly adaptable and filling after I want a quick lunch or mild, straightforward dinner.
What You’ll Want
Right here’s a have a look at what goes into these Mediterranean meatball pita pockets. Scroll to the recipe card for the precise recipe, together with measurements for the meatball components.
- Meatballs – I make my meatballs from scratch with lean floor turkey and some seasonings. I like turkey meatballs, however you may fill the pita pockets with any do-it-yourself and even store-bought meatballs.
- Pita Bread – These might be entire wheat or common. In case you have a do-it-yourself pita recipe, use it!
- Cucumber, Tomatoes, and Onion – To make the salad/veggie filling. Cherry tomatoes are best to slice and have a sweeter taste. Attempt to use seedless cucumbers, like English cucumbers, and a gentle purple or white onion.
- Feta – For crumbing over the stuffed pitas earlier than serving.
Yogurt Sauce Elements
- Cucumber – Finely diced, or you may grate the cucumber utilizing a field grater.
- Garlic – Additionally finely minced.
- Plain Yogurt – Greek yogurt or any thick, plain yogurt. Bitter cream is an efficient substitute.
- Olive Oil – Select a good-quality further virgin olive oil.
Cooking the Meatballs
I normally bake the meatballs for this recipe, however in the event you’re against switching on the oven in the summertime, there are different methods. Alternatively, you could possibly grill the meatballs like my meatball skewers.
- Oven: Bake the meatballs in a 350ºF oven for 16-18 minutes. I like to rearrange them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet, and bake in batches so the air can flow into.
- Air fryer: To cook dinner the meatballs within the air fryer as an alternative, observe my air fryer meatballs recipe and air fry at 400ºF for 10-12 minutes.
Cucumber Yogurt Sauce (Taratur)
Taratur is the creamy cucumber yogurt dipping sauce from my rooster skewers recipe. It’s a bit like a thinner, Macedonian model of Greek tzatziki. It’s unbelievably straightforward to make and tastes nice in these meatball pita pockets.
- Combine the sauce. Mix finely diced cucumbers in a bowl with minced garlic, salt, and olive oil. Combine, then stir within the yogurt.
In case you have leftovers, maintain the sauce in an hermetic container within the fridge to make use of on all the things from pita pockets and salmon kabobs to zucchini fritters.
Making ready the Salad
You may fill the pockets with shredded lettuce or cabbage, however I extremely suggest you strive the shopska salad! It’s just like a Greek salad or my tomato cucumber salad, made by combining halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, and sliced onion with olive oil and white wine vinegar.
The contemporary, tangy flavors brighten all the things up and complement the yogurt sauce and savory meatballs. I sprinkle feta cheese on high when assembling the pitas, however it’s also possible to combine it proper into the salad.
The best way to Warmth Pita Pockets
The easiest way to warmth the pita pockets is in a dry pan on the stovetop, within the oven wrapped in foil, or you should use the toaster. Should you’re utilizing a microwave, wrap the pitas in a moist paper towel in order that they steam a short while they heat.
Assemble
When it’s time to serve, heat up the pita pocket and open it up. Unfold the yogurt sauce inside, then tuck in 3-4 meatballs per pita. Fill the remainder of the pita with salad and feta, and dig in!
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For the turkey meatballs:
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Get able to bake. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Place a wire rack over a baking sheet; grease with cooking spray and put aside.
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Combine the meatballs. In a big bowl, mix floor turkey, panko crumbs, egg, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, contemporary floor pepper, garlic, and oregano. Utilizing a wood spoon, combine till effectively mixed and completely included.
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Form and bake. Form combination into 2-inch balls and place on beforehand ready baking sheet. You’ll have to do that in batches, relying on the dimensions of your baking sheet. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or till cooked by way of.
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Make the yogurt sauce. Place cucumbers and minced garlic in a bowl. Sprinkle with salt and 1 tablespoon further virgin olive oil and blend. Stir within the yogurt till completely included. Chill till prepared to make use of.
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Put together the salad. Place chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions in a mixing bowl. Add salt, oil, and vinegar to the combination; toss and blend till effectively blended. Style for seasonings and regulate accordingly.
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Assemble the pita pockets. Heat up the pita pockets. Open the pita pockets and unfold about 1 to 2 tablespoons of the yogurt sauce on the within of every pita. Place 3 to 4 meatballs in every pita pocket. Prime with ready salad and sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese. Serve.
Energy: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 33g | Fats: 5g | Saturated Fats: 1g | Ldl cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 619mg | Potassium: 736mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 670IU | Vitamin C: 13.8mg | Calcium: 178mg | Iron: 2.2mg
Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values might differ in response to the components and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.