Recipe for spicy turkey meatballs (2024)

8/9/11

Recipe for spicy turkey meatballs

Recipe for spicy turkey meatballs (1)

Meatballs weren't a typical item on a menu in my house in Russia. Instead, we ate kotleti: sort of similar to burger patties, they were made from beef, garlic, onion, salt & pepper with an addition of an egg and some bread.

These kotleti were formed into patties and cooked on a pan till the outside was crispy. Instead of eating them on a bun, we had them with mashed potatoes, rice, pasta or buckwheat.

My mom, however, did make ezhiki. Say what? In Russian it means little hedgehogs. These were mini meatballs made with beef and rice and usually added to the soup. Meatballs & spaghetti wasn't something I discovered till my family moved to the States.

In the last 18 years, I've tried beef, pork, chicken and turkey meatballs. I've had them over rice, on top of salads, both in tomato or cheese based sauces and of course with spaghetti.

This time I'd like to share with you a recipe for Spicy Turkey Meatballs I came up with. If you are still feeling eeffie about turkey, feel free to use ground chicken.

Ingredients (makes about 23 meatballs)
olive oil for cooking
1 pound ground turkey
2 chipotle in adobo peppers, seeds removed, finely chopped
2 Laughing Cow Cheese Light Mozzarella Sundried Tomato wedges
16 basil leaves, chopped (Thanks, Sylvie)
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt & pepper
1/4 red onion, chopped finely

Recipe for spicy turkey meatballs (2)


Directions
1. Combine all ingredients together other than olive oil.

Recipe for spicy turkey meatballs (3)Recipe for spicy turkey meatballs (4)

2. Form uniform meatballs.

Recipe for spicy turkey meatballs (5)

3. Heat olive oil in a nonstick pan. Add meatballs and cook them till they are browned all around and are cooked through. This should take about 10-12 minutes total.

Recipe for spicy turkey meatballs (6)

Alas, I could not really taste the cheese. The chipotle in adobo sauce, however, really shined through and gave these meatballs a nice kick!

What do you add into your meatballs?

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Labels:meat

14comments:

Delicious Dishingssaid...

Sad that you couldn't taste the cheese... that sounded like such a great addition!

August 09, 2011
Anonymoussaid...

I wouldn't recommend using olive oil to brown the meatballs in. The flashpoint of olive oil is relatively low compared to other oils, and as such produces damaged fats.

August 09, 2011
Reemsaid...

These looks scrumptious!!! I'm sure chipotle mus have added nice kick and flavor to it.. May be you cannot taste the cheese but I feel cheese will definitely add richness and smoothness to the texture. Thank you so much for stopping by at my blog, it really means alot I have been reading your blog for such a long time and you are truly inspiring.

August 09, 2011
PlethoraOfPinatassaid...

@Anonymous - You are correct that olive oil has a low smoke point and therefore would be a poor choice for deep frying, but it is implied here in the instructions and in the final picture that the recipe calls for pan-frying, which is generally done at a lower temperature and Extra Light olive oil would be appropriate for that. It would also be healthier than peanut oil and tastier than Canola oil.

August 09, 2011
Maris (in Good taste)said...

These look delicious!Love all the ingredients!

August 09, 2011
Melissa Jonessaid...

Yum. I think I might try this with beans. Probably white beans? I'll need to play with the proportions, but the other ingredients sound amazing. I am getting hungry (which is why I should not read your blog before lunch!).

August 10, 2011
Kelly | Eat Yourself Skinnysaid...

Wow these meatballs look fantastic!! Love your blog and so glad to be a new follower! xoxo

August 10, 2011
Paula - bell'alimentosaid...

I'm a fan for any kind of meatballs!

August 10, 2011
Carasaid...

I love how you've combined basil and cheese with chipotle peppers!

August 11, 2011
Anonymoussaid...

Oh man. These look incredible. I think they'd be awesome on a hoagie with melted mozzarella... I'm drooling.

August 15, 2011
City Girlsaid...

Surprised that the cheese didn't provide more flavor, but not surprised that these were still a hit! And, I really like turkey meatballs :). xoxo

September 03, 2011
Carleensaid...

This is wonderful....did not think I would like ground turkey....I used chipotle seasoning instead of the peppers....delicious!

February 20, 2012
Olga @ MangoTomatosaid...

hi! Thank you so much for letting me know. Great you put your own spin on the recipe.

February 20, 2012
Arugula Filessaid...

Yummy. I think I"m going to make some meatballs this weekend.

June 27, 2013

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Recipe for spicy turkey meatballs (2024)

FAQs

Why do you put baking soda in meatballs? ›

This process allows the baking soda to neutralize acid on the surface of the meat, resulting in less toughness and a cooked meat that is juicy on the inside while remaining crispy on the outside. Note: Some cuts of meat may take longer to soak in the baking soda to fully tenderize.

Do meatballs get more tender the longer they cook in sauce? ›

The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become. 3. Concentration of Flavors: Simmering at a low temperature for an extended period also encourages the sauce to reduce and thicken.

Why are my turkey meatballs falling apart? ›

Because meat shrinks when cooked, mince proteins are likely to separate and crumble unless bound together. Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart.

Is it better to bake meatballs at 350 or 400? ›

For 1-2 inches of beef, pork, or turkey meatballs without any pre-cooking, use these guidelines for your wall oven:
  • 350°F wall oven:
  • 8–14 minutes for 1-inch meatballs.
  • 14–18 minutes for 2-inch meatballs.
  • 400°F wall oven:
  • 6–10 minutes for 1-inch meatballs.
  • 10–14 minutes for 2-inch meatballs.
  • 425°F wall oven:
Aug 16, 2023

Which tastes better fried or baked meatballs? ›

Baking will result in meatballs with a crunchy exterior, though the caramelisation achieved from frying will be superior.

What does adding milk to meatballs do? ›

Italian Meatball Ingredients

Bread crumbs: Use store-bought bread crumbs or make your own at home. Milk: Milk adds moisture, ensuring the meatballs don't dry out during the cooking process. Onion: An onion lends bold flavor. Meat: You'll need a pound of ground beef and a pound of ground pork.

Do you need to rinse baking soda off meat? ›

Allow the meat to soak in the baking soda solution for 15 minutes. Remove the meat from the liquid and briefly rinse the meat in plain water to strip off the baking soda solution (or as much of it as possible). Cook as desired.

Can you cook raw meatballs directly in the sauce? ›

YES! I do this every time I make meatballs. You can freeze the meatballs after you fry them, but before you cook them in the sauce.

Why are my meatballs hard after cooking? ›

When meatballs are tough, it's often because they've been overworked. Start by thoroughly mixing all of the ingredients except for the ground meat. Once you add the meat, you want to work it only just enough so the ingredients are evenly distributed.

How do you know when meatballs are done in sauce? ›

You'll also have really flavorful meatballs so make sure you use a good homemade tomato sauce or a quality red sauce from the grocery store. You will know the meatballs are ready when the internal temperature of the meatballs is 165 degrees.

What are the ingredients in cooked perfect turkey meatballs? ›

They're made with the top quality turkey and seasoned with a special blend of herbs and savory spices like onions and garlic. They're perfect for pasta dinners and sandwiches, great in a Turkey Meatball Pie, Escarole Soup, or as Meatball Nachos.

What happens if you put too much breadcrumbs in meatballs? ›

It can also make the finished mixture loose, and it'll fall apart when cooking.

How do you tell if turkey meatballs are cooked through? ›

Bake for 15 minutes, or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F on an instant-read thermometer. As an alternate way to check, a meatball in the center of the baking sheet should be fully cooked through when cut in half.

Do you cook meat before adding simmer sauce? ›

It is often preferable to cook the meat and vegetables separate from the simmer sauce at high heat first. Then add the sauce, cover, and simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring every few minutes and using the time you saved in preparation to make a salad or even catch up on social media.

What method of cooking is applied to meatballs? ›

Different Methods of Cooking Meatballs
  1. Pan Fry: For Supremely Crispy Meatballs. ...
  2. Bake: For Easily Browned Meatballs. ...
  3. Poach in Sauce: For Soft and Tender Meatballs. ...
  4. Mind Your Meat. ...
  5. Don't Overmix. ...
  6. Use Soft Hands to Form the Meatballs.

Do you cook the meat before putting it in spaghetti sauce? ›

Combine ground beef, onion, garlic, and green pepper in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until meat is browned and crumbly and vegetables are tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain grease. Stir diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste into the pan.

What makes meatballs stick together better? ›

Add a lightly beaten egg, but not too much. Egg acts as a binder for the ingredients, but you only need a small amount. One small egg will do for one pound of minced meat. Alternatively, if you're following an egg-free diet, you could soak fresh bread in milk, squeezing out any excess milk, to use as a binder.

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