Mediterranean Lemon Turkey Timbale with Creamy Farro, Roasted Eggplant, and Herbed Yogurt Sauce
An original Mediterranean dish featuring layers of lemon-oregano turkey, creamy broth-cooked farro, roasted eggplant, cherry tomatoes, and a fresh yogurt sauce with parsley and mint. Balanced, aromatic, and ideal for an elegant yet approachable main course.
Ingredients
- 500 g turkey breast, small diced (skinless)
- 180 g farro (enjuagado)
- 400 g eggplant (diced of 2 cm)
- 200 g cherry tomatoes (whole)
- 180 g plain Greek yogurt (for the sauce)
- 480 ml chicken or vegetable broth (hot)
- 120 g red onion (chopped fina)
- 12 g garlic (3 cloves chopped and 1 grated)
- 1 unit lemon (zest and 3 tbsp of juice)
- 60 ml olive oil (divided)
- 20 g fresh parsley (chopped)
- 8 g fresh mint (chopped)
- 2 g dried oregano
- 1 g ground cumin
- 2 g sweet paprika
- 50 g green olives (sliced)
- 25 g sliced almonds (tostadas)
- 6 g salt (or to taste)
- 2 g black pepper (freshly ground)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
1. Preheat the oven to 220 °C / 425 °F. Place the eggplant and cherry tomatoes on a baking tray. Toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil, half the salt, and some black pepper. Roast for 22 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the eggplant is golden and tender and the tomatoes begin to burst.
- 2
2. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add half of the red onion and 1 minced garlic clove. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in the farro and cook for 1 minute to lightly toast it.
- 3
3. Pour the hot broth over the farro, bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and cook covered for 20 to 25 minutes, until the grain is tender and creamy. Add a splash of water if needed. At the end, stir in 1 tablespoon parsley and 1 teaspoon lemon zest. Keep covered and set aside.
- 4
4. In a bowl, combine the turkey with the dried oregano, ground cumin, sweet paprika, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, the remaining minced garlic, a little salt, and black pepper.
- 5
5. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Cook the turkey for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring, until fully cooked and lightly browned. Add the remaining red onion and cook 2 minutes more. Stir in the green olives and cook for 30 seconds.
- 6
6. For the sauce, mix the Greek yogurt, grated garlic, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, the remaining lemon zest, fresh mint, the remaining parsley, a pinch of salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Stir until smooth.
- 7
7. Toast the sliced almonds in a small skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, watching carefully so they do not burn, until golden and fragrant.
- 8
8. To assemble the timbales, divide the farro among four plates or molds as the base. Top with the sautéed turkey, then the roasted eggplant and cherry tomatoes. Finish with spoonfuls of herbed yogurt sauce and the toasted almonds on top.
- 9
9. Serve immediately, with extra black pepper or fresh parsley if desired.
Chef tips
For a more defined presentation, press each layer into a plating ring and remove it just before serving. The farro should stay moist, not dry, so the timbale keeps a creamy texture.
Substitutions
You can substitute chicken for the turkey. Farro can be replaced with brown rice, though the dish would then no longer contain gluten from that ingredient. If you do not want almonds, use toasted sunflower seeds. Mint can be replaced with dill or basil.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageTempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
Illustrative imageT-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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