Before Hadley, I was on this, “I can not ever repeat a meal” kick. But once you have kids, you find what works and you stick to it. And by repeat a meal, I mean I make it maybe once a month.
These are awesome and there are so many variations to make these little turkey balls of goodness. I love love love ginger and garlic, if using a whole head of garlic in a meal is excessive for you; trim it down a clove or two. But seriously; everything is to taste if you like things spicy, add a less honey and little more sriracha. More honey, less garlic? Change it up, and tell me how it goes 😊
Asian inspired Turkey Meatballs
1.2 lbs of turkey – If you can only find 1lb packages, I suggest doubling the recipe
3-6 cloves of garlic- finely chopped
1 inch nub of Ginger, peeled finely chopped – ((if you have a pestle and mortar ; this is fun for little helpers to mash the ginger and garlic together – You could also pulse it in a food processor ))
1 Carrot – shredded
½ C Panko breadcrumbs - ((Use what you have here, I love Panko but didn’t have any when I made this batch so I used the insides of a dried out Everything Bagel (I scoop out the insides to make room for mashed Avocado)))
1 Tbl Bragg Liquid Aminos ((or Soy Sauce))
½ Tbl Sunflower oil (( or Light olive oil))
1 Egg lightly beaten
1 tsp ground flax seed
1 tsp Sesame oil
2 Scallions thinly sliced
Teriyaki Sauce
1 Tbl Olive or Sunflower Oil
2-4 cloves of garlic finely copped
1 Tbl finely chopped Ginger
¼ cup Coconut/ Date Sugar
¼ cup Honey
¼ cup Liquid Aminos ((or Soy Sauce))
2 Tbl Hoisin Sauce
1 tsp Sriracha
If you have the time, mix the meat and let sit for a few hours. I like to prepare in the morning to let the flavors develop. Then when it is dinner time, the whole meal comes together super quick.
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Line a cookie sheet with tin foil
Mix meat together
Roll out in 1” balls ((I use an ice cream scoop - portion out onto the lined cookie tray, once all the meat is portioned out, then I roll them. This way the scoop handle does not get covered in raw meat))
Bake 10-12 minutes
Once you pop the Meatballs in the oven work on your sauce.
Sautee the garlic and ginger in oil
Add the rest of your ingredients
Simmer
Drizzle with sauce
Cook an additional 5-10 minutes
((Internal temperature should read 165 for poultry))
These meatballs are also great with Trader Joe's Sweet Chili Sauce.
Serve with Jasmine rice – Cook in the InstaPot on the rice function – set it and forget it!
1 cup of Rice to 2 Cups of water or Chicken Stock ((If using water season, with garlic powder, onion and a little salt))
I also chose to roast some Cauliflower on the side. You could easily omit the cauliflower for a complete meal or add something as simple as sautéed edamame.
As soon as dinner is done, I am excited for leftovers the next day. These are seriously one of my all-time favorite meals.
((I ate the leftovers today and topped with Grandy Oats Nori Sesame Cashews for a little crunch!))
Happy Cooking!