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Falafel Meatball Wraps with Tzatziki Sauce

Balanced, flavorful, and enjoyable—this recipe has it all.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean

Ingredients

Meatballs:
  • 1 (15-ounce) 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas rinsed and drained
  • ¼ ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 1 large egg
  • 1 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 3 3 cloves fresh garlic finely minced or pressed through a garlic press
  • 1 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
  • ¼ ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 ½ 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef or ground turkey (see note)
  • ¼ ¼ cup minced onion or grated on a box grater
  • ¼ ¼ cup milk
  • ¼ ¼ cup panko or regular bread crumbs
  • Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Tzatziki Sauce:
  • 1 1 cup PLAIN yogurt
  • ½ ½ cup grated cucumber seedless variety
  • ½ ½ cup crumbled Feta cheese
  • 1 1 clove garlic finely minced or pressed through a garlic press
  • 2 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ ¼ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
  • Pinch of black pepper
  • Drizzle of olive oil
For the Wraps:
  • Boston or bibb lettuce leaves
  • diced tomatoes
  • Naan or flatbread optional, homemade, or storebought (see note)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with foil and lightly grease with cooking spray.
  2. For the meatballs, combine the chickpeas, parsley, egg, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor and puree. Scrape the mixture into a medium bowl. Add the ground beef or turkey, grated onion, milk, panko or bread crumbs and lemon juice. Mix until combined (I find it's easiest to mix with my hands).
  3. Shape the mixture into about 16-18 meatballs (a little smaller than golf ball size). Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet about 1/2-inch apart. Bake for 15-20 minutes until cooked through.
  4. For the tzatziki sauce, in a medium bowl, stir together the yogurt, cucumber, feta cheese, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper until combined. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  5. To serve, place 2-3 meatballs on a lettuce leaf, dollop with tzatziki and top with chopped tomatoes. The lettuce wrap can also be served inside naan bread (or serve the naan on the side), if desired.

Notes

  • Nutrition Facts: the nutrition facts for this recipe were calculated based on the falafel meatballs and tzatziki (but do not include the optional toppings or wraps as those are added based on personal preference). 
  • Ground Turkey: not all ground turkey is created equal. I've found the kind in the tubes is pretty icky (super mushy - I know, gross), and the meatballs might have a tendency to fall apart. If using ground turkey, mix together all the ingredients EXCEPT milk and only add the milk if the mixture is really thick and stiff. I usually use the butterball brand (at Costco) or Jennie-O, but mostly I use lean ground beef because I like the flavor a bit better. 
  • Naan: here is my favorite homemade naan. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Serving Calories 389kcal (19%) Carbohydrates 9g (3%) Protein 25g (50%) Fat 28g (43%) Saturated Fat 12g (60%) Cholesterol 125mg (42%) Sodium 769mg (32%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 4g (8%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 Serving
Calories 389kcal 19%
Carbohydrates 9g 3%
Protein 25g 50%
Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 12g 60%
Cholesterol 125mg 42%
Sodium 769mg 32%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 4g 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.