Description
Asian Glazed Turkey Meatballs are a flavorful and healthy twist on traditional meatballs, baked to perfection and coated in a sweet and savory soy-based glaze. Infused with ginger, garlic, and sesame, these meatballs are perfect as an appetizer, side dish, or main course served over rice or noodles.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated carrot
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Glaze
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey or brown sugar
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
Garnish
- Sesame seeds
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to get it ready for baking the meatballs.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, breadcrumbs, grated carrot, soy sauce, sesame oil, beaten egg, minced garlic, grated ginger, and ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly to evenly distribute all the ingredients.
- Shape and Bake Meatballs: Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on a lined baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
- Prepare Glaze: While the meatballs bake, combine soy sauce, honey or brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, grated ginger, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes in a saucepan. Simmer the mixture over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until flavors meld. If desired, stir in cornstarch dissolved in water and cook for another 1-2 minutes to thicken the glaze.
- Coat Meatballs: Once baked, toss the meatballs in the prepared glaze until they are fully coated with the shiny, flavorful sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Finish by sprinkling sesame seeds and chopped green onions over the glazed meatballs. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute ground chicken for turkey if preferred.
- Glaze thickness can be adjusted by the amount of cornstarch added; omit if you prefer a thinner sauce.
- For a spicier version, increase the red pepper flakes or add sriracha to the glaze.
- These meatballs are delicious served over steamed rice or soba noodles.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
