Mediterranean Rice Bowl with Tzatziki Sauce

Rice bowls are perfect for quick week nigh dinners! Grab this delicious Mediterranean Rice Bowl with Tzatziki Sauce recipe.

Mediterranean Rice Bowl with Tzatziki

Mediterranean Rice Bowl with Tzatziki Sauce
Serves 4

Ingredients - Rice Bowl:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts or 1 package (14 oz) extra firm tofu - drained, pressed, and cubed
1 teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon black pepper
sea salt
2 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice
1 cup halved cherry or grape tomatoes
½ cucumber, chopped
1 avocado, thinly sliced
½ cup kalamata olives, sliced
¾ cup crumbled feta

Ingredients - Tzatziki Sauce:
½ English cucumber, peeled and finely diced
2 cups plain Greek yogurt
4 teaspoon garlic, minced
1/3 cup dill, chopped
1½ tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
⅛ teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

1. Press the cucumbers in paper towels to reduce the water. Then in a small mixing bowl combine all of the tzatziki sauce ingredients. Refrigerate for one hour and then serve with the prepared bowls.

2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add chicken (or tofu) and season with dried oregano, pepper, and salt to taste. Cook for about 8 minutes per side - for the chicken, continue to cook until cooked through (at least 165º F). Set aside to let rest 5 minutes, then slice the chicken into thin slices.

3. To assemble bowls: Fill with quinoa or brown rice. Then arrange the tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, olives, feta, and sliced chicken or tofu on top.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 350 calories, 17 grams fat, 5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 20 milligrams cholesterol, 300 milligrams sodium, 38 grams carbohydrates, 7 grams fiber, 7 grams sugar, 13 grams protein

Mediterranean Loaded Fries with Tahini Sauce

These fries are delicious and loaded with all the right things - falafel, chopped red and yellow pepper, sliced olives, diced radishes and cucumber, and crumbled feta cheese. Plus then topped with this homemade magical tahini sauce!

This recipe calls for two frozen products - one from Alexia and another from Sol Cuisine, if you can’t find these brands at your grocery stores opt for similar products. Or you can make your own baked sweet potato fries and falafel too!

For a baked Sweet Potato Fry recipe, check out my go-to recipe on page 115-116 in my book Skinny Size It (Harlequin Non-Fiction).

Mediterranean Loaded Fries (Image: Molly Morgan)

Mediterranean Loaded Fries with Tahini Sauce
Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 bag (15 oz) of Alexia Sweet Potato Fries
1 cup chopped veggies (red pepper, yellow pepper, cucumber, radish, onions)
1/4 cup sliced black olives
1 bag (10 oz) Sol Spicy Mediterranean Falafel or similar

Ingredients - Sauce:
1/2 cup tahini
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
5 tablespoons water, plus more
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 small garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:
1. Pre-heat an air-fryer or oven to 425 degrees F. Cook the sweet potato fries and falafel to the package instructions.
2. Meanwhile in a small bowl whisk together the tahini sauce ingredients and chop the vegetables.
3. Arrange the baked fries on a platter and top with vegetables, olives, feta, and falafel. Then finish with the tahini sauce AND serve with extra tahini sauce on the side.

Roasted Beet Hummus

This is a fun twist on the traditional hummus! The light sweetness of roasted beets taste great in this chickpea based dip. When serving hummus, try different toppings like crumbled feta, chopped scallions, chopped herbs, or caramelized onions.

From a health perspective, what I love about hummus is that it has more nutrients compared to many other traditional dips. This is largely thanks to the chickpeas, which are the base of hummus because they provide key nutrients including: dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, folate, magnesium, potassium, and iron.

Roasted Beet Hummus (Image Source: iStock)

Roasted Beet Hummus
Serves 10

Ingredients:
1 small roasted beet*
1 15-oz. can chickpeas, mostly drained
1 Tbsp. lemon juice 2 – 3 tsp. garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. tahini (sesame seed paste)
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

*or purchase roasted beets in the produce section of the grocery store (e.g. Love Beets)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375° F 2. Prepare roasted beets: remove the stem, most of the root from your beets, peel and scrub and wash them underwater until clean. Wrap beets in foil, drizzle lightly with olive oil, wrap tightly, and roast for one hour or until tender. Cool beets to room temperature.

3. Combine all ingredients in the food processor and blend until smooth.

Serving suggestion: Serve with chopped vegetables or whole grain pita.

Nutrition facts (per serving): 74 calories, 5 grams fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 140 milligrams sodium, 7 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 1 gram sugar, 2 grams protein

Baba Ganoush Dip

Baba Ganoush - Creamy Eggplant Dip

Baba Ganoush is a classic Mediterranean dish that is creamy and delicious! It’s a perfect dip to serve with sliced veggies and pita bread. Enjoy the recipe!

Baba Ganoush
Serves 4 - 6

Ingredients:
1 large eggplant, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 teaspoons (10 ml) sea salt, divided
1 teaspoon (5 ml) olive oil
1 teaspoon (5 ml) garlic, minced
2 tablespoons (60 ml) lemon juice
1 tablespoon (30 ml) tahini (sesame seeds paste)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F/220 degrees C and position a rack at the top of the oven.

2. Arrange the eggplant on a baking sheet and sprinkle with one teaspoon of sea salt. Let sit for about 10 minutes and then lightly pat dry with a paper towel.

3. Drizzle the eggplant lightly with olive oil and roast for 10 minutes, until the eggplant is softened and golden brown. Let the eggplant cool and then peel of skins off (skin should come off easily).

4. In a food processor add the roasted eggplant with the remaining ingredients and blend until the mixture is creamy and smooth.

To serve: top the Baba Ganoush with a drizzle of olive oil and serve with sliced vegetables, warmed whole grain pita bread, or whole grain crisps.

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Meatless Monday Recipe: Falafel with Homemade Tzatziki Sauce

Eating meatless at least one day a week can help the environment and better your health. If you have never tried falafel, it is worth a try! Falafel is a Mediterranean dish that is chickpea-based or sometimes made with fava beans. 

Serving up falafel with whole grain pita bread, veggies (e.g. lettuce, tomato, kalamata olives, cucumber), feta cheese, and tzatziki sauce! 

Making your own tzatziki sauce is easy and tastes even better if you can make it up ahead of time, at least the night before! It will allow the flavors to come together better, although if you are short on time you can make it with the falafel, the flavors will just be a little less intense. 

Falfel (Photo Source: iStock)

Falafel with Homemade Tzatzki Sauce

Serves 6

Ingredients - Falafal:
1 can (15-ounces) chickpeas (rinsed and drained)
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
4 teaspoons garlic, minced (about 4 cloves)
2 tablespoons tahini (sesame seed paste)
2 medium shallots
2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper (plus more to taste)
1/4 teaspoon coriander
1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup olive oil (for cooking) 

Ingredients - Tzatziki Sauce
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup shredded cucumber (pressed to remove water)
1 teaspoon garlic, minced (about 1 clove)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
 

Directions: 
1. In a food processor add: chickpeas, parsley, shallot, garlic, tahini, cumin, salt, pepper, and coriander. Pulse to blend and scrape down the mixture as needed. The dough should be crumbly.

2. Add flour 1 tablespoon at a time (you may not need the full 1/4 cup), until the mixture is somewhat firm and you can shape into a ball. 

3. Transfer the dough to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or more). 

4. After the falafel dough is chilled, scoop about 2 tablespoons worth of the mixture and gently form into patties (makes about 12).

5. In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Working in batches, add 3 - 4 of the patties cook for about 2 - 3 minutes on each side until lightly browned and crispy. Remove from skillet and then repeat for the remaining falafel patties. 

6. In a small mixing bowl, combine all of the tzatziki sauce ingredients. Stir to combine, cover, and refrigerate.. 

Serving suggestion: Serve falafel with pita bread, chopped veggies, kalamata olives, and homemade tzatzki sauce.