Grilled Gyro Meatballs

Instructions

1. For the Tzatziki: Using the large hole side of a box grater, grate the cucumber into a fine-mesh trainer. When finished, squeeze all the water out of the cucumber and set aside to continue draining. Add the remaining ingredients to a mixing bowl, along with the grated cucumbers and combine. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Set aside while you make the Tomato-Feta Salad.
2. For the Tomato-Feta Salad: Remove the core from the tomatoes, cut the tomatoes in half, then remove and discard the seeds using a spoon. Dice the tomatoes into 1/4-inch pieces and place in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl, mix thoroughly, then taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Set aside while you make the Gyro Meatballs.
3. For the Gyro Meatballs: Preheat an outdoor grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Put the ground veal in a mixing bowl and gently break apart the meat so it’s not a solid block. Add the mustard and egg to the bowl and set aside. In another small mixing bowl, add the breadcrumbs, onion flakes, coriander, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, marjoram, oregano, salt, cinnamon, and pepper and mix to incorporate. Then, add the breadcrumb mixture to the meat. Very gently with your hands, mix the ingredients together until evenly distributed, then form balls that are about 1-inch in diameter. Be careful not to compact the meatballs too forcefully as this will result in a dense and chewy meatball.
4. Once all the meatballs are formed, add them to the preheated grill and cook for 12-14 minutes, turning every 3 minutes to grill all sides evenly. The meatballs will be fully cooked when their internal temperature reaches 160F using an instant read food thermometer. Remove the meatballs from the grill when cooked and let rest for 3 to 5 minutes before eating.
5. Right before serving, drizzle about 1 teaspoon of olive oil on each side of the pita bread then warm them up on the grill until soft and pliable, about 2 minutes.
6. To serve, place the warmed pita bread on a plate, cut two or three meatballs in half and place on the pita, then top with a generous spoonful of the Tzatziki and Tomato-Feta Salad. Repeat with remaining ingredients and enjoy!