Lately I’ve been testing all kinds of different meatballs – including meat-free versions. SeriousEats has a great round-up of all the different meatball varietals from around the world. Using tips from their guide to the most tender and juicy meatballs, I’ve been creating some of my own.

This one is Thai inspired and who doesn’t love peanut noodles! Yum!

Thai Inspired Turkey Meatballs

 

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Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

30 mins

 

Author: Oat&Sesame

Serves: 12 meatballs

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• â…› tsp onion powder
• â…› tsp garlic powder
• Pinch of pepper
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• ¼ tsp dried ginger or 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• Zest of one lime
• Zest of one lemon
• 1 teaspoon fish sauce
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1 cup loosely packed, chopped cilantro
• ¾ cup day old bread, cubed
• ¼ cup buttermilk (added a tablespoon at a time)
• Coconut oil to brown the meatballs

Instructions

1. To make the meatballs, place the ground turkey in a bowl.
2. In another bowl, mix the bread cubes with the buttermilk - add just enough buttermilk that it coats all the bread cubes and has a little to absorb. Let that sit for about 5 minutes until all of the bread is soft and wet.
3. Add the bread and all of the spices, fish sauce, and zest to the bowl of a Cuisinart or mixer. Blend everything together, then add ¼ of the ground turkey. Blend again until incorporated.
4. Add the blended mixture to the rest of the ground turkey and mix together by hand.
5. Now it's time to start shaping the meatballs. Grab a baking sheet to place them on and some water to dab on your palms to prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands!
6. Once you have nice evenly formed balls ready to cook, heat the oven to 350 F and add a couple tablespoons of coconut oil to an oven proof pan over medium-high heat.
7. Once the oil is hot, sear the meatballs until nicely browned on a couple sides, turning as you go. This will take about 5 minutes.
8. Once browned, place the pan in the heated oven and finish cooking the meatballs - about another 5 minutes.

Notes

inspired by Cravingsinamsterdam.com

3.5.3208

Peanut Noodles

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

20 mins

 

Author: Oat&Sesame

Serves: 3-4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoon sesame oil + extra to toss with kale
• 2.5 tablespoons soy sauce
• 4 teaspoon Sriracha
• ½ teaspoon fish sauce
• 4 tablespoons peanut butter
• 8 ounces soba noodles
• 1 cup kale, deribbed and sliced into ribbons
• sesame seeds, to top
• cilantro, to top
• 1 lime, juice and zest
• reserved pasta water

Instructions

1. Prepare the kale ribbons and place in a heat proof bowl or Pyrex.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
3. Once the water is boiling, ladel a few scoops over the kale ribbons to cover and blanch the kale for about 30 seconds (The remaining water will be used to boil the noodles.). Drain the kale. Toss a teaspoon of sesame oil and some sesame seeds with the kale. Set aside.
4. In a sauté pan over low or medium-low heat, combine sesame oil, soy sauce, Sriracha, and fish sauce. Cook for about 30 seconds,
5. Add peanut butter, stir to combine, then turn off heat.
6. Boil noodles according to package instructions. ~ 3 to 4 minutes.
7. Using tongs, add the noodles straight from the water to the pan with the peanut sauce.
8. Add reserved pasta water a couple tablespoons at a time until the sauce loosens and you reach a desired consistency.
9. Top with kale ribbons, Thai inspired meatballs, lime zest, sesame seeds and cilantro! And maybe a dash of extra fish sauce if you dare!

Notes

inspired by a recipe found on Food52.com

Another option instead of kale would be steamed broccoli drizzled with toasted sesame oil and topped with sesame seeds.

3.5.3208

Mediterranean Eggplant Meatballs: Roasted Eggplant + Zatar + Parsley + Walnuts + Lemon Zest (recipe here) – Serve over roasted spaghetti squash with pesto!

Italian Turkey Meatballs (same process as noted above with cubed bread): Turkey + dried Oregano + handful of fresh Parsley +2 cloves Garlic + handful of Pine Nuts + Lemon Zest, Salt, Pepper – Serve over spaghetti (or squash pictured) with red sauce!

Next on the list – Sicilian Tuna Meatballs

Honey Jalapeno Chicken w/Sesame Soba Noodles