On our path to lead a more heart-healthy lifestyle, we knew we needed to eliminate most red meat from our diet. At first, this was harder than we thought because there are so many traditional Greek recipes that contain red meats. So we had to be creative and think of other options but didn’t want to sacrifice any of the flavor or texture. One of our favorite things to make and eat is Keftedes. Traditional Keftedes are ground beef shaped meatballs fried in oil. Well, that wasn’t going to happen anymore, so we had to come up with a tasty alternative.  To replace the bread soaked in milk used in the traditional recipe we incorporated zucchini because of the moisture it holds. We also replaced the beef with lean ground turkey, hence the name Turkey Keftedes.

We think you will find that a lot of recipes traditionally fried, taste just the same when baked! Using the same spices as the classic recipe, our version is just as flavorful and mouthwatering. These Turkey Keftedes are a great go-to appetizer or as part of your main meal along with a salad or some roasted vegetables.

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Turkey Keftedes

This recipe for Turkey Keftedes is a healthier take on traditional Greek Keftedes with lean turkey, zucchini and a blend of herbs and spices.

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Greek

Servings 3 people

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 cup shredded zucchini
• 1/2 cup feta optional
• 1 medium chopped onion
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp mint
• 2 tbsp oregano
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp cumin

Instructions

 

• Grate zucchini and let drain in a colander for half an hour.
• Using a cotton cloth squeeze zucchini to remove excess water. Place the zucchini in a mixing bowl along with all the rest of the ingredients.
• Mix thoroughly by hand or with a wooden spoon.
• Form meatballs by rolling about a tablespoon of meat mixture into a ball and placing it on a baking sheet sprayed with non-stick spray.
  
• Fill up the baking sheet with meatballs and place it in a preheated 350° oven. Bake for about eight minutes and then turn over. Continue baking until the meatballs are thoroughly cooked and no longer pink inside.
• These are great with Tzatziki Sauce.

Notes

To vary the recipe, we occcasionally add feta cheese to the keftedes.

Keyword Appetizer, Greek, Keftedes

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