Meatless Monday: Tomatokeftedes (Tomato Balls) with Tzatziki Zucchini Pasta
Prep Time 17 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 42 minutes mins
- For the tzatziki sauce
- 1/2 of a cucumber
- 1/3 cup 0% plain Greek Yogurt I used Chobani
- 1 garlic clove very minced
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1/2 tbsp fresh dill chopped
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- a few 3-4 cranks of a sea salt grinder
- a couple cranks 2-3 of the peppercorn grinder, to taste
- For the tomato balls and pasta
- 1 large zucchini peeled, Blade C
- 1 cup baby vine tomatoes chopped
- 3-4 tbsp spring onion chopped
- 1 tbsp warm water
- 1 tbsp mint chopped
- 1 pinch of oregano
- 1/4 cup of whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup of Pecorino Romano cheese recipe calls for kefalotyri, but normal grocery stores don't carry it so this will do
- salt and pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 405 degrees.
Take the cucumber and peel it. With a teaspoon, scrape out the seeds in the inside of the cucumber and discard.
Time to prepare the tzatziki sauce. Loosely chop the cucumber and put it into a food processor. Pulse until big chunks are gone. If you don't have a food processor, finely chop the cucumber. When done, place into a bowl with the rest of the ingredients for the sauce (Greek yogurt, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, dill, lemon juice, salt, pepper). Place in the refrigerator.
Next, prepare the tomato ball mixture. In a large bowl, place in all of the ingredients and mix together with hands until the mixture is thick and sticky enough to create about 2 large tomato balls. If needed, add more flour and water. Form the tomato balls with your hands.
Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and place on the tomato balls. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, flip over and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until tomato balls are browned on the outside and don't easily fall apart with poked with a fork. When done, take out of the oven and set aside.
Pour the tzatziki sauce over the zucchini pasta and mix thoroughly to combine. Place in a bowl. Top with tomato balls and enjoy!