Simple yet packed with flavor, these ground beef Mediterranean bowls are the perfect easy weeknight dinner that’s packed with protein and anti-inflammatory ingredients. Serve with toppings of choice, such as my homemade tzatziki (recipe below) and tomato-cucumber salsa!
Lately I’ve been loving any Greek or Mediterranean-inspired food and these ground beef Mediterranean bowls are absolutely fabulous!!
The base is turmeric rice, which uses freshly grated turmeric which is packed with nutrients and anti-inflammatory properties. Perfect for this time of year! Next, we cook down a simple mixture of yellow onion, ground beef, spices, and fresh herbs for the protein. Top with my homemade easy tzatziki sauce, tomato cucumber salsa, and pickled onions for a super fresh meal that’ll give you lots of leftovers for the week! These are perfect for meal prep as well.
Jazz these bowls up by adding additional toppings, such as: hummus, crispy chickpeas, freshly torn herbs, feta, or even scoop it up with pita/pita chips!!
Full recipe below. I hope you love this one! Make sure to tag me @abigailsapron on Instagram if you try them <3
Lemon Turmeric rice:
1 tbsp olive oil
2 inch knob fresh turmeric, grated
2 cloves garlic, grated
1 cup basmati rice
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 3/4 cup broth (can sub water, will affect flavor)
1 tsp lemon zest
Juice of 1/2 lemon + more to taste
Heat a small pot over medium heat. Add olive oil. Once hot, add fresh turmeric and garlic, sauté for one minute until fragrant.
Add in rice + spices, and stir well to combine. Pour in broth (or water), along with salt and pepper. Stir, and bring to a boil.
Once boiling, immediately cover pot with a tight-fitting lid and reduce heat to low. Simmer rice for 15 minutes on low heat.
After 15 minutes, turn off the heat (keep the lid on), and steam for an additional 10 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork and stir in the lemon zest + juice. Keep warm on low heat, and fluff with a fork again before serving.
Ground Beef:
1 tbsp olive oil, more if needed
1/2 large yellow onion, finely chopped
1lb ground beef (you can use 80/20 for extra flavor or 93/7 works too)
3 cloves garlic
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 cup packed parsley, finely chopped
2 tbsp mint, finely chopped (optional)
2 tbsp dill, finely chopped
1 tsp salt
freshly ground black pepper
Start by heating a skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil. Once oil is shimmering/hot, add in the chopped onion. Sauté until onion is softened and golden.
Add ground beef to the pan. Cook and break apart until browned. If the onions are getting too browned you can reduce the heat to low.
Add garlic, spices, salt, and pepper. Sauté until everything is combined and garlic is fragrant. Add your fresh herbs and stir to combine. Keep warm over low heat until ready to serve
Tzatziki:
one English cucumber, grated and squeezed of excess moisture
1 1/2 cups whole milk greek yogurt
2 tbsp dill, finely chopped
2 tbsp mint, finely chopped (optional- adds another layer of flavor + freshness that I like)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice + more to taste
1 tsp lemon zest
2 garlic cloves, grated
Fine sea salt, to taste (start with 1/2 tsp)
Cracked black pepper
Grate the cucumber onto a couple layers of paper towels, then squeeze out the excess water as much as you can.
Add grated cucumber to a bowl with remaining ingredients. Taste and adjust as needed.
Pickled Onions:
1 large red onion, and/or multiple shallots, thinly sliced
Apple cider, white wine, or red wine vinegar
Pinch salt + pepper
Pinch sugar
Combine onions in a jar with 1:1 liquid ratio of vinegar to hot water, along with the salt, pepper, and sugar. Shake to combine. Allow to sit overnight for best flavor!
Serving ideas:
tomato cucumber salsa: diced tomatoes + cucumbers, and salt
Greens: arugula, lettuce, or spinach
feta
lemon wedges
extra herbs, if desired
pickled onions
pita chips/pita
crispy chickpeas
hummus
Make up your bowls by adding a little bit of everything to each plate; below are a couple pictures for plating inspiration! Choose your own adventure for the toppings and jazz it up however you’d love <3
I hope you love these bowls!! Truly the most perfect easy, nourishing, and healthy comfort food. You can’t go wrong with Greek!
If you like this recipe, make sure to check out my other Mediterranean bowl recipes already posted on my substack- they’re all incredible!
I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday :)
With love,
Abigail