Gyro Bowls (Meatballs with Tzatziki, Lemon Rice, and Cucumber Salad) (2024)

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Gyro Bowls (Meatballs with Tzatziki, Lemon Rice, and Cucumber Salad) (1)

5 from 16 votes

Prep:15 minutes minutes

Cook:20 minutes minutes

Total:35 minutes minutes

Delicious lamb or beef meatballs, cucumber salad, lemony rice, and creamy tzatziki sauce combine incredible Greek flavors into one delectable bowl.

4 bowls

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

  • 1 pound ground lamb, beef, or pork lamb preferred
  • ¼ cup minced onion
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup finely crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Greek seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon salt

For the Tzatziki

  • 1-2 cloves garlic minced or pressed
  • ¼ teaspoon salt to taste
  • half of one European cucumber peeled, grated, drained (see Notes)
  • 1 cup plain yogurt drained
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint plus more to taste, see Notes
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill see Notes
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

For the Lemon Rice

  • 2 cups cooked rice white or brown
  • juice of one half lemon roughly 1 tablespoon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt to taste

For the Cucumber & Tomato Salad

  • 1 cup tomatoes diced, halved, or chopped
  • 1 cup diced cucumber drained, see Notes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt to taste

Recommended Garnishes (All Optional)

Equipment

Instructions

For the Meatballs

  • Preheat oven to 425° Fahrenheit. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Spray foil or parchment paper lightly with cooking spray and set baking sheet aside.

  • Add all meatball ingredients to large mixing bowl. Using your hands, gently mix together ingredients until uniformly combined.

    Gyro Bowls (Meatballs with Tzatziki, Lemon Rice, and Cucumber Salad) (2)

  • Divide mixture into even portions using scoop with release handle. Roll each scoop between palms of hands to form meatball, then place on lined baking sheet. Repeat until all mixture has been formed into meatballs. Mixture should yield 14 to 20 meatballs depending on size of scoop. Note: if not using scoop, divide entire mixture into 4 equal parts, then divide each part into 5 equal meatballs.

  • Place baking sheet in preheated oven. Bake 10 to 14 minutes or until meatballs are nicely browned and cooked through. Prepare remaining components of gyro bowl while meatballs bake.

For the Tzatziki

  • Place garlic on cutting board. Sprinkle salt over garlic then use back of fork to mash garlic into paste.

  • Add garlic paste, drained cucumber (see Notes), drained yogurt, mint and/or dill, black pepper, and olive oil to medium bowl. Stir well to combine all ingredients, then taste and adjust salt as needed. Set aside.

For the Lemon Rice

  • Add 2 cups cooked rice, juice of one half lemon, and salt to medium mixing bowl. Stir well to thoroughly incorporate ingredients, then taste and adjust lemon juice and salt as needed. Set aside.

For the Cucumber & Tomato Salad

  • Add all components to small mixing bowl. Gently stir to distribute ingredients, then taste and adjust salt as needed. Set aside.

To Assemble the Bowls

  • Divide rice evenly into serving bowls. Top rice with meatballs, tzatziki, cucumber & tomato salad, and any other desired garnishes. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Tzatziki: You can use fresh mint AND fresh dill, or choose just one.

To Drain Water from Cucumbers

  1. Peel and grate/dice cucumbers.
  2. With paper towels, squeeze as much water as possible out of cucumber.
  3. Place cucumber in colander. Set colander over bowl to catch liquid. Liberally sprinkle salt over cucumbers, tossing or moving cucumbers as needed to salt entirely.
  4. Let cucumbers rest 20 minutes.
  5. Transfer drained cucumbers to fresh paper towels. Press or blot to remove any remaining liquid. If desired, you can quickly rinse the drained cucumbers in cold water to remove excess salt, then press or blot with paper towels.

Nutrition Information

Serving Size: 1gyro bowl, Calories: 615cal, Protein: 28g, Fat: 41g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 154mg, Sodium: 1246mg, Potassium: 568mg, Total Carbs: 31g, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 5g, Net Carbs: 29g, Vitamin A: 314IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 246mg, Iron: 3mg

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

© Author: Cheryl Malik

Gyro Bowls (Meatballs with Tzatziki, Lemon Rice, and Cucumber Salad) (2024)

FAQs

How many calories are in a gyro rice bowl? ›

1 bowl of beef & lamb gyro bowl (Meal Simple) contains 470 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 48% carbs, 38% fat, and 14% protein. This is a good source of protein (29% of your Daily Value), potassium (8% of your Daily Value), and iron (50% of your Daily Value).

What to eat with gyro meat? ›

Top 6 Side Dishes That Pair Well with Gyros
  • Top 6 Side Dishes That Pair Well with Gyros. ...
  • Tzatziki Sauce. ...
  • Greek Salad. ...
  • Dolmades (Stuffed Grape Leaves) ...
  • Greek Potatoes. ...
  • Spanakopita (Spinach and Feta Pie) ...
  • Pita Chips and Hummus. ...
  • Conclusion.
Apr 27, 2023

How do you put gyros together? ›

To assemble the sandwiches, generously spread tzatziki in the center of 4 rounds flatbread or in the pocket of the pita. Add 1 lettuce leaf, some sliced tomato, and a few thin onion slices to each flatbread or pita. Add the patty and fold the bread over the meat.

What is giro food? ›

gyro, a Greek dish of roasted meat served in a pita, usually with tomato, onion, and tzatziki, a cold, creamy sauce made from yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and various spices. Gyro meat—typically lamb, beef, pork, or chicken—is roasted on a vertical skewer and sliced off in thin, crispy shavings as it cooks.

Is a gyro healthy for weight loss? ›

Gyros are mostly known for being light meals. They're known to have fewer calories than other sandwiches. Regular gyros have about 350 to 500 calories, depending on the ingredients.

What is the healthiest gyro? ›

Choose Leaner Meats

Traditional gyros are made with lamb or pork, but you can also use chicken, turkey, or beef. This is great if you want to make healthier versions of the gyros, as some cuts of meat are loaded with fat.

What is real gyro meat made of? ›

In this traditional kebab dish, the lamb is seasoned, pressed into a cylinder, and continuously rotated until fully cooked. When the lamb is too lean, layers of fat are sometimes added. Lamb is the most common and traditional meat used in Gyros.

How many meats are in a gyro? ›

Typical American mass-produced gyros are made with finely ground beef mixed with lamb. For hand-made gyros, meat is cut into approximately round, thin, flat slices, which are then stacked on a spit and seasoned.

What is the correct way to eat a gyro? ›

The traditional way to eat a gyro is to hold it with two hands, with the pita bread wrapped around the meat and the toppings. Hold the bottom of the pita bread to prevent the filling from falling out. When enjoying a gyro, taking your time and savoring the flavors is important.

What bread is best for gyros? ›

Serve the gyro meat wrapped in warm pita bread and topped with tomatoes, onions, feta, and tzatziki.

What is the binder in gyro meat? ›

To prepare gyros is just like making a meatloaf, but with the addition of cornstarch. That might seem like a strange ingredient in this recipe, but it acts as a binder and helps the meat stay together so when you cut the loaf into thin slices, the slices are flexible and will hold together, instead of crumbling apart.

What is the sauce on a gyro made of? ›

Tzatziki is a creamy cucumber yogurt dip (or sauce) made from simple ingredients including strained yogurt (or Greek yogurt), cucumbers, garlic, and sometimes fresh herbs such as dill or mint. Traditionally, it is made from strained sheep or goat's milk yogurt, but a full-fat Greek yogurt works just fine in this dip.

What to eat with gyros? ›

What To Serve With Gyros: 21 Delicious Sides To Feast On
  • Produce. • 1 Greek lemon potatoes, Roasted. ...
  • Condiments. • 1 Greek feta sauce. ...
  • Pasta & Grains. • 1 Greek rice. ...
  • Bread & Baked Goods. • 1 Cauliflower fritters. ...
  • Dairy. • 1 Lemon & garlic whipped feta.
  • Deli. • 1 Cucumber salad, Creamy. ...
  • Other. • Greek Oven-Baked Fries.

What is shawarma vs gyro? ›

Gyro is savory with a hint of sweetness and garlic, while Shawarma has a smoky flavor with a hint of sweetness from the marinade. To add flavor and texture, both dishes can be topped with various sauces, pickles, and vegetables. The main difference between shawarma and gyro is the type of meat used.

Why are gyros so good? ›

Gyros are packed full of protein and are typically lower in fats and sugars. A balance of carbs, protein, and fat is vital for a balanced diet. The main difference between gyros and other types of meat is the type of meat used. The meat is cut uniquely and is wrapped up in a pita bread.

How many calories in a Greek rice bowl? ›

1 serving of greek bowl with white rice (Protein House) contains 650 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 41% carbs, 31% fat, and 28% protein. This is a good source of protein (82% of your Daily Value), fiber (14% of your Daily Value), and calcium (20% of your Daily Value).

How many calories in a Pita Way rice bowl? ›

Pita Way Rice Bowl
Nutrition Facts
For a Serving Size of 1 serving
How many calories are in Pita Way Rice Bowl? Amount of calories in Pita Way Rice Bowl: Calories 680Calories from Fat 360 (52.9%)
% Daily Value *
How much fat is in Pita Way Rice Bowl? Amount of fat in Pita Way Rice Bowl: Total Fat 40g-
40 more rows

How many calories in a typical gyro? ›

Gyro Sandwich (1 gyro) contains 73.7g total carbs, 69.8g net carbs, 12.2g fat, 44.2g protein, and 593 calories.

How many calories in a shawarma rice bowl? ›

488 Calories | 45g Protein | 42g Carbs | 14g Fat. Ingredients (4 servings)

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