Yumm!  Or should I say Opa?  Well….opa would refer more to dancing but this recipe was so yummy, it had me dancing in the kitchen!  Thanks again to my trusty new cookbook from Against All Grain, we decided to test out a recipe for Greek Pasta with Lamb Gyro Meatballs.  Riche was an absolute sweetheart and offered to get dinner ready that evening, and it turned out brilliantly!  I was thoroughly impressed with both his cooking skills and the amazing combination of flavors for this healthy “pasta”.   Enjoy y’all!

Greek Pasta with Lamb Gyro Meatballs

Ingredients:

Meatballs:

• 1.5 lb ground lamb
• 1.5 tbs fresh lemon juice
• 1.5 tbs extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1.5 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
• 1.5 tsp chopped fresh oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper

Tzatziki Sauce:

• 3/4 cup yogurt
• 1 small cucumber, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 tbs fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp chopped fresh dill
• 1 tsp chopped fresh mint
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 tsp salt

Pasta:

• 4 large zucchini
• 1 tbs fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbs extra-virgin olive oil
• 1.5 tsp chopped fresh oregano
• 1/5 tsp sea salt
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup feta, crumbled (optional)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375˚ F.

In a medium bowl mix all the meatball ingredients together. Form the meat into 2-inch balls and place them on a rimmed baking sheet. Let marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes while you prepare the tzatziki sauce.

Place all the sauce ingredients into a medium bowl and whisk together. Once combined, cover and refrigerate.

Place the meatballs in the oven, baking for 20-25 minutes, or until no longer pink in the center.

While the meatballs cook, make the pasta. Peel the squash and julienne them. Place the noodles in a large bowl and toss with the lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, and salt. Add the tomatoes, onion, and feta. Allow noodles to marinate while meatballs finish baking.

Serve the meatballs atop the zucchini pasta with a dollop of tzatziki sauce.