Description
A quick and flavorful weeknight dinner featuring spiced ground beef, cool creamy tzatziki sauce, and fresh Mediterranean veggies served over rice or pita.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef (85/15 lean)
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced (4 for beef, 1 for sauce)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt (divided)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup (240g) full-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 medium English cucumber, grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh dill (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
- 1 cup Basmati rice, dry
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 large pita breads, optional
Instructions
- Make the Tzatziki Sauce: Grate the cucumber and squeeze out excess liquid using a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth. In a medium bowl, whisk together the squeezed cucumber, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, 1 minced garlic clove, olive oil, dill, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and refrigerate.
- Cook the Rice: Rinse 1 cup Basmati rice under cold water. In a medium pot, combine rice, 1 1/2 cups water, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-18 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
- Prep the Veggies: While rice cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the red onion, and pit the olives. Soak red onion slices in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow the flavor. Crumble the feta cheese.
- Brown the Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon, cooking for 5-6 minutes until browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Season the Beef: Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened. Add remaining garlic, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, remaining salt, and pepper. Stir constantly for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Assemble the Bowls: Divide rice or warm pita pieces among four bowls. Top with spiced beef, cherry tomatoes, red onion, olives, and a generous dollop of tzatziki. Sprinkle with crumbled feta and serve immediately.
Notes
Squeeze the cucumber thoroughly to prevent watery tzatziki. Use full-fat Greek yogurt for the best texture. The beef should not be overcooked to remain juicy. Tzatziki tastes better after chilling for 15-30 minutes. Store components separately in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; do not freeze.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 24
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 28
Keywords: Mediterranean, Ground Beef, Gyro Bowl, Tzatziki, Weeknight Dinner, Quick Meals, Greek Food, Healthy Dinner, Meal Prep