Meatball Tzatziki Bowl

     I started this blog as a way of keeping track of the food I was eating after being diagnosed with insulin resistance in the spring of 2023. I was devastated. In fact, the first thing I did was head out to a local soda shop and get a coconut root beer. And then I decided to work with it and work on myself. In doing that I realized when I eat lower carb, not any one true, strict, or well-known low carb, but reduced in most areas, I feel so, so, much better. 

 

     Fast forward to now, June of 2024, and I saw the doctor who diagnosed me. I no longer show signs of insulin resistance or fatty liver and through diet alone I've lost 24 pounds in that year, a little over 10% of my total body weight. I'm happy with that. And best of all, I did it without feeling restricted or hungry. Sure, a few things were taken off the table and at times it feels like I'm limited, but when I go to make dinner, there are so many options still there. 

     This is a great option for something upscale and delicious, with lots of flavors to it but not a lot of work and enough components that it doesn't feel limited. I used to make tzatziki with yogurt. This time I made it with cottage cheese and a little bit of sour cream for some tang. Cottage cheese is higher in protein and I wanted to try. My husband doesn't like cottage cheese and could tell it was different but was fine with it, it was close enough and very enjoyable. 

Meatballs

2 bratwurst
1/2 lb. Ground beef
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Granulated Garlic
2 dashes allspice

Tzatziki
1/2 c. Cottage cheese
2 Tbsp. Sour cream
1 tsp. Lemon juice
1 tsp. Garlic paste
Salt to taste
1/4 c. Shredded cucumber

Roast Zucchini
1 zucchini
Olive oil to drizzle
Salt, pepper, and granulated Garlic

 

Herb Sauce
2 Tbsp each, mint, cilantro, and dill
1 slices red onion, minced fine
1/4 tsp. Garlic paste
1/4 c. Olive oil
1/4 tsp. Black pepper
Salt to taste

Preheat the oven to 500*

Combine all of the meatball ingredients and stir, all going in the same direction, for 3 minutes. Form into meatballs, you should get about 10. 

Place in the airfryer at 400* for 16 minutes. 

Meanwhile, chop the zucchini and drizzle with olive oil. Top with salt, pepper, and garlic and roast for 15 minutes until the bottom is golden and they are tender. 

Place the cottage cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, garlic paste, and salt in a food processor and leave for 10 minutes, You want it to be as smooth as possible and whipped a tiny bit. Remove from the food processor and stir in the grated cucumber. 

Chop everything for the herb mixture really fine. In a bowl add the chopped mixture and the olive oil and stir together. 

In a bowl layer the tzatziki sauce, roast zucchini, meatballs, and mixed herb sauce. 

Enjoy!