Start by processing an onion until finely minced. Your food processor will work best if you chop the onion into rough pieces of equal size first. Add in freshly grated ginger (you can use dried ginger instead if you want), warm spices like coriander and allspice, and ground meat. We used traditional lamb in this recipe, but you can use pork or beef instead if you wish. Pulse until just combined, or use your hands to combine the mixture well. Roll into meatballs, and set aside.
Next, make the Paleo tzatziki sauce. Clean your food processor well, then add the cucumbers and pulse until finely minced. Add a ripe avocado, a bit of olive oil, and season with garlic, lemon juice, dill, chives, and black pepper. Pulse until thick and well combine. Taste and adjust for seasoning, if necessary.
We cooked our meatballs in batches on the stovetop, but you can also use your broiler if you want to cook them all at once. Depending on how large your keftedes are, it might take a total of 8-12 minutes for them to cook all the way through. When ready, serve your seasoned meatballs with Paleo tzatziki sauce on the side. Enjoy as an appetizer, or pair them with a cucumber and tomato salad for a full Greek-style meal.
Tip: If you have leftover tzatziki sauce, store it in a Ziplock plastic bag with all the air squeezed out to prevent discoloration. Store in the fridge for one day.
For hundreds of pure Paleo recipes be sure to check out The Real Paleo Diet Cookbook and The Real Paleo Diet Fast and Easy.
Greek Meatballs & Zoodles with Paleo Tzatziki
By Jess Case