Description
Enjoy these juicy and flavorful Asian-inspired Soy Ginger Meatballs that are easy to prepare and perfect for meal prep. Serve them over rice, in a vibrant noodle bowl with fresh vegetables, or as a delicious appetizer. These baked meatballs combine ground turkey with aromatic ginger, garlic, fresh herbs, and a zesty soy-lime dressing for a satisfying meal with bold flavors.
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon lime zest
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
For the dressing:
- 1/4 cup avocado oil or olive oil
- 1/4 cup lite soy sauce or tamari
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup (can use honey)
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
- Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
For making a bowl:
- Vermicelli rice noodles or rice
- Cucumber slices
- Shredded carrots
- Shredded cabbage
- Thinly sliced red bell pepper
- Avocado slices
- Fresh herbs: cilantro, mint, and/or basil
- Sliced green onions
- Chopped peanuts
- Sesame seeds
- Lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside for easy cleanup and baking.
- Mix meatball ingredients: In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, panko breadcrumbs, beaten egg, sliced green onions, chopped cilantro, soy sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, lime zest, kosher salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Use your hands to thoroughly mix the ingredients until evenly combined.
- Form meatballs: Using an ice cream scoop or large cookie scoop (about two tablespoons), scoop the mixture and roll it between your palms to form balls. Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake meatballs: Bake the meatballs for 18 to 22 minutes in the preheated oven, flipping them halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning. The meatballs should be cooked through and golden.
- Prepare dressing: While the meatballs bake, whisk together avocado or olive oil, lite soy sauce or tamari, fresh lime juice, rice vinegar, pure maple syrup, sesame oil, minced garlic, freshly grated ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes in a small bowl or jar. Taste and adjust seasoning by adding salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve: Serve the meatballs over cooked rice or vermicelli noodles. Drizzle with the prepared dressing and garnish with your favorite bowl toppings like cucumber slices, shredded carrots, cabbage, bell pepper, avocado, fresh herbs, green onions, chopped peanuts, sesame seeds, and lime wedges. Enjoy as a vibrant noodle bowl or with steamed rice as a satisfying meal or appetizer.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey with ground chicken or lean pork if preferred.
- If gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Feel free to adjust the level of crushed red pepper flakes to your desired spice level.
- The meatballs can be prepared ahead and refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
- Use a cookie scoop for uniformly sized meatballs to ensure even cooking.
- This recipe is great for meal prep and can be served cold or reheated.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian
