What’s for Dinner- Vol1

• Turkish Meatballs

• Rice Pilaf

• Tzatziki

The classic question after a long day: What’s for dinner?

Planning dinner can feel like a daily struggle—especially when you’re low on time and energy. That’s why simple, fuss-free meals are true lifesavers.

In this series, I’m sharing easy dinner menus you can throw together with minimal effort and ingredients. Let’s take the stress out of mealtime and bring the joy back to the dinner table.

Turkish Meatballs

Ingredients:

• 1.1 lbs (500 g) ground beef

• 1 cup bread crumbs

• 2 medium onions, grated

• Fresh parsley, finely chopped (about ½ cup)

• 1 tsp black pepper

• 3 tsp ground cumin

• 1 tsp baking soda (or baking powder as a substitute)

• 3 tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Grate the onions and finely chop the parsley.

2. In a large bowl or tray, mix the grated onions, chopped parsley, bread crumbs, ground beef, spices, baking soda, and salt.

3. Knead the mixture thoroughly. The more you knead, the tastier the meatballs will be.

4. Shape the mixture into small patties. If you have time, let them rest in the fridge for 30 minutes—this makes them even more flavorful.

5. Fry in hot vegetable oil until golden brown and cooked through. Serve hot.

Rice Pilaf

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rice

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• Salt (to taste)

• 1 1/2 cups boiling water

Instructions:

1. Rinse the rice thoroughly until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.

2. In a pot, add the butter and olive oil, then add the rice and sauté it well until slightly toasted.

3. Pour in the boiling water and add salt to taste.

4. Cook on low heat until the water is absorbed.

5. Once the water is fully absorbed, turn off the heat, place a paper towel between the pot and the lid, and let the rice steam for about 10 minutes.

Tzatziki

Ingredients:

• ½ cup finely grated cucumber

• 1 cup thick whole milk Greek yogurt

• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

• ½ tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 garlic clove, grated

• ¼ teaspoon sea salt

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint (optional)

Instructions:

1. Place the grated cucumber on a towel and gently squeeze out some of the excess water.

2. In a medium bowl, combine the cucumber, yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, dill, and mint (if using).

3. Chill until ready to serve.

Tips:

• I always prepare the meatballs more than I could eat and freeze the rest. Great for dinner when you don’t know what to do for dinner.

• When you are making the pilaf, saute a little orzo before adding rice and adjust the water accordingly.

Enjoy!