Greek Meatball Buddha Bowl. If you are looking for healthy meal ideas that still taste really good, this recipe is for you. It also makes the perfect meal prep! Spend some time making the meatballs, cooking the farro, and slicing veggies, and you are ready to go! This is also a great dish if you are trying out the Mediterranean diet.
Buddha Bowls make such great meals because they are easy to customize. There are enough ingredients, that everyone will find something they like to add to their bowl. I made my meatballs with lean ground turkey, for a lighter meal that is also high in protein. Ground turkey is a favorite of mine to use for dinner and other meals as it cooks quickly, is pretty neutral (meaning you can add in loads of flavor), and it is so healthy!
Components In The Greek Meatball Buddha Bowl
- Farro- You can also use white rice, but I really like to use whole grains whenever I can. Farro is a grain that is gaining a lot of popularity lately and I am glad for it! It is pretty easy to find, if not you can always order it online. Yes, it is a little more expensive, but I think our health is worth it! This takes 30 minutes to cook, so start with it.
- Greek Meatballs- This is a ground turkey recipe and one that you are going to love! They come together as explained below. Once you have your farro going, start the meatballs.
- Tsatsiki- What is a Greek Buddha Bowl without it? Not as good, that's what. The recipe is included below.
- Feta- I mean, it is kind of synonymous with Greek food, right?
- Cucumber, Red Onions, and Fresh Tomatoes- I think these are all vital, but you can also add in whatever you like!
Making The Greek Meatballs
I made these meatballs with heart-healthy ground turkey. The key to working with really lean meat is to add in ingredients that will add moisture and NOT over-bake. We will be doing both in this recipe.
Start by mixing all ingredients in the bowl. I know it feels pretty gross, but honestly, it is the easiest way to mix it. Then scoop onto your prepared baking sheet. I love this OXO medium cookie scoop, it is the perfect size for these meatballs.
Your hands will be gross. If you want perfectly round meatballs, wash your hands and leave them wet before rolling. I didn't do this, as I wasn't looking for perfection in these. Not a big deal, they just stuck to my hands a bit.
Making The Tsatsiki
While your meatballs are baking, start your tsatsiki. The sauce is simple to make and can also be ahead of time if you want. It uses 5 ingredients- Cucumbers, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, and salt. That is it. The amounts you use are a variable, depending on taste and preference. You will see my recommendations in the recipe box below.
Healthy Ingredients In This Buddha Bowl
We all know our health is important. We also know what we eat affects out health in huge ways! Let me share some of the awesome ingredients that will greatly benefit your health within one amazing bowl:
- Farro- Whole grains have been the target of a lot of negative press in recent years, but let's reconsider. Whole grains are actually an essential part of a healthy diet. So many studies have proven their worth when it comes to heart health, reducing the risk of stroke, certain cancers, and of course making us feel satiated longer. Farro is an ancient grain that has many of these health benefits as well. What to do if you are gluten intolerant? No problem. Oat groats, quinoa, buckwheat, and millet are also really great options.
- Vegetables- This is a great opportunity to get more vegetables into your diet. I read an article recently that about 80% of Americans are not getting in their recommended daily allowance of vegetables. Crazy right? In most of my bowls, I go for 1-2 cups of various veggies.
- Ground Turkey- I could have used ground beef, lamb, or even pork, but went with ground turkey instead. It is much lower in calories, but you will still get the protein you need with each meal.
- Tsatsiki- This is made with Greek Yogurt, cucumber, minced garlic, and fresh lemon juice. So again we are getting protein with Greek yogurt, as well as reduced calories. We are also adding in more vegetables with the grated cucumber. Then the olive oil as well. I am telling you, this dish has it all!
Meal Prep Buddha Bowl
They are also the perfect meal prep meals as well. You can make all your ingredients ahead of time and just throw them together when you are ready. It is yummy hot or cold! It is so simple to portion this out as soon as it is baked and you are good to go with several meals for that week!
More Buddha Bowl Recipes
If Buddha Bowls are your thing, I have some other recipe ideas you will like! This Salmon Patty Bowl is a healthy option too. Just like this bowl it can also be made ahead and used for meal prep. My Spicy Salmon Bowl is another awesome meal idea. Filet is one of our favorite cuts of beef, so I featured it in our Filet Buddha Bowl! This Gluten-Free Vegetarian Bowl is an option for my vegetarian audience as well.
Cooked farro
Ingredients
- 3 cups vegetable stock You can also use water if you prefer. I like the flavor stock gives it though. If you would rather use a chicken, fish or beef stock, those are great too.
- 1 cup pearled farro
- 1 teaspoon salt this is a variable. You can add more or less, depending on preference.
Instructions
- Bring stock to a boil over medium heat. Add salt and farro. Cover and simmer on low for 25-30 minutes. Remove from heat and let it rest for 5-10 minutes, fluff with fork.Serve as desired!Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for a week to a week and half. I like to reheat with a little liquid. So, if you are microwaving, place chilled farro in a microwaveable bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of water, cover and microwave on high for for about a minute. If you don't like using microwaves or prefer the cooktop, you can use the same method there. Place farro in pan, add water, cover and simmer until heated. Now, sit back and enjoy. Look at how healthy you are!!
Greek Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ cup finely ground old fashioned oats
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup crumbled feta
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.Grind oats in food processor. Mix all ingredients in another medium sized bowl until well combined. Form into small balls, and place on parchment lined baking dish.Bake for about 7-10 minutes. These are delicious served with pitas or even served in a Buddha bowl!
Simple Tsatsiki
Ingredients
- 1 cup nonfat plain Greek Yogurt
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoons olive oil This is optional. I like the flavor of it, but it certainly doesn't have to be added.
- ⅔ cup grated cucumbers, squeezed the remove all liquid If you don't squeeze the liquid out, you will end up with a very runny tsatsiki, which is not very good. You can see how I do this in the video.
- fresh lemon juice I am not putting amounts on here, as I think everyone has their own personal preferences with this.
- salt and pepper to taste. Again, this will be a personal choice.
Instructions
- Add yogurt, garlic, olive oil and cucumbers to bowl. Next is the variable part of the recipe. A good place to start with the lemon juice, salt and pepper is 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Go from there and adjust as you like it. I have eaten tsatsiki so many different ways, there must be a lot of different preferences out there!This is so good served as an appetizer with warmed pita bread, with a grain bowl as shown in the photo, or even with grilled chicken, beef or shrimp.Now, sit back and enjoy. You deserve it!