Greek Lamb Meatballs with Tzatziki

Why This Is Strictly Keto

Ground lamb, feta, egg and fresh herbs carry all the Greek flavor here. A little almond flour replaces the usual breadcrumbs to keep the meatballs tender, and the tzatziki is nothing but full-fat yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon and dill. There is no bread, no sugar and nothing processed.

Ingredients

Meatballs

• 1 1/2 lb ground lamb
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/3 cup almond flour
• 1/4 cup finely minced red onion
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Tzatziki

• 1 cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 medium cucumber, grated and squeezed dry
• 1 clove garlic, finely grated
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Preheat: Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Mix the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the lamb, egg, feta, almond flour, red onion, garlic, parsley, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined.

3. Shape: Roll the mixture into about 24 meatballs, roughly 1 1/2 inches wide, and arrange them on the baking sheet with space between each.

4. Bake: Bake 18–22 minutes, turning once halfway, until browned and cooked through (160°F / 71°C inside).

5. Make the tzatziki: While the meatballs bake, stir together the yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, dill, olive oil and salt. Chill until serving.

6. Serve: Pile the meatballs on a platter with the tzatziki, lemon wedges, chopped tomato and a scatter of fresh parsley.

Nutritional Info (per serving, approximate)

Tips

• Squeeze the grated cucumber in a clean towel — excess water is what makes tzatziki runny.
• Do not overmix the meat; a light hand keeps the meatballs tender.
• Ground beef or a beef-lamb mix works if lamb is hard to find, and the meatballs freeze well before or after baking.