Asian Turkey Meatballs – Omnivore’s Cookbook

Are you seeking to shake up your meal rotation with a dish that’s each simple to make and filled with taste? These Asian-inspired turkey meatballs are simply the reply! They’re delicate and tender, coated with a shiny sticky sauce infused with ginger and garlic. These meatballs are scrumptious, lean, and could be prepared very quickly—excellent for busy weeknights. Plus, they’re versatile sufficient to serve with rice, noodles, and even in a lettuce wrap for a low-carb choice.

Why turkey meatballs?

Turkey is a leaner different to beef and pork, so it’s an excellent selection should you’re seeking to minimize down on fats with out sacrificing protein. Its delicate taste additionally means it really works fantastically with the daring, savory, and barely candy flavors of Asian-inspired sauces. Whenever you’re within the temper for a flavorful, comforting meal with out feeling weighed down, these turkey meatballs are the way in which to go.

Asian turkey meatballs substances

Secret ingredient – water chestnut

Water chestnut is a generally used ingredient in Chinese language meatballs, reminiscent of Lion’s Head Meatballs. They add a enjoyable crunchy texture to the meatballs, and make them lighter on the similar time. To not point out it’s an effective way so as to add greens to your meal.

You possibly can normally discover canned water chestnuts on the Asian / ethnic aisle at common grocery shops. You possibly can both use entire water chestnuts or the sliced kind. So as to add them to the meatballs, chop them into items which are bigger than minced however smaller than diced for the most effective texture. If you don’t want to slice them, you may also use a meals processor to pulse them. Simply to ensure they don’t seem to be minimize too small.

If you don’t want to make use of water chestnuts, the most effective different is lotus root. It gives a really related texture, to not point out it affords a number of health benefits. Different alternate options embody jicama and carrots. If utilizing carrots, I would cut back the quantity and mince it, so it gained’t prove powerful.   

Asian turkey meatballs substances

You solely want six substances to make Asian turkey meatballs. 

• Floor turkey 
• Soy sauce
• Shaoxing wine
• Water chestnuts
• Cornstarch 
• Breadcrumbs 

The soy sauce and Shaoxing wine add an excellent taste. And the cornstarch and breadcrumbs hold the meatballs delicate and tender as soon as cooked.

The meatball sauce substances

I made a sticky sauce that’s savory, candy, bitter and barely spicy. You will want:

• Rooster broth
• Soy sauce
• Shaoxing wine
• Rice vinegar 
• Sugar 
• Doubanjiang (Elective)
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Cornstarch 

Doubanjiang is a hidden taste I used within the sauce so as to add a deeper umami and make the sauce barely spicy. You possibly can learn extra about this ingredient here. I might merely skip it should you don’t have it available. Alternatively, you should use your favourite scorching sauce or chili oil to switch it.

How you can make Asian turkey meatballs

Making Asian turkey meatballs is tremendous simple.

First, you need to combine the liquid seasonings into the bottom meat. Ensure that to stir the meat rather a lot in a single path, to completely incorporate the seasonings and make the bottom meat sticky. This may assist the meatballs maintain collectively as soon as cooked and have a barely bouncy texture.

Then combine within the water chestnuts, cornstarch and breadcrumbs. Then form the paste into meatballs.

To cook dinner, brown the meatballs till all sides are caramelized. Then add the sauce and let it cook dinner for a bit.

Lastly, add the cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce, so it turns into shiny and can coat the meatballs nicely.

As soon as performed, the meatballs are tender and juicy, coated with the sticky sauce that’s wealthy and filled with aroma.

How you can serve Asian meatballs

These Asian turkey meatballs are versatile! Serve them over a mattress of fluffy jasmine rice with stir-fried veggies. Or you may serve them by themselves as a most important dish with steamed greens and mashed or baked potato. They’re additionally scrumptious in a grain bowl, layered with contemporary veggies like cucumber, shredded carrots, and edamame.

Different scrumptious meatball recipes

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Asian Turkey Meatballs