Turkey Balls of Goodness

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!