Turkey-Date Meatballs with Lentils and Yogurt Sauce Recipe
Ground turkey meets slightly sweet chopped dates in these healthy, baked meatballs adapted from a recipe in Food & Wine Magazine. Accompanied by lentils simmered in cinnamon and garlic and a tangy yogurt sauce it's a complete meal ready in just a little over 1 hour.
Ingredients
- Turkey Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 2 cups fresh bread crumbs
- 6 dates, pitted and finely chopped
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- Cinnamon-Garlic Lentils:
- 1 cup French green lentils
- 5 garlic cloves, crushed and peeled
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1½ tablespoons sherry vinegar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- Lemon-Herb Yogurt Sauce:
- 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro or mint
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions
- For the Turkey Meatballs:
- In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey with the bread crumbs, dates, eggs, sesame seeds, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Form the turkey mixture into 1-inch meatballs. Spread the meatballs on a lightly oiled large rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, turning once, or until browned on the bottom and cooked through.
- Cinnamon-Garlic Lentils:
- While the meatballs are cooking, prepare the lentils. In a medium saucepan, cover the lentils, garlic and cinnamon stick with 2 inches of water; bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately low heat until the lentils are tender, about 25 minutes. Drain the lentils and transfer to a bowl; pick out and discard the seasonings. Stir the olive oil and vinegar into the lentils and season with salt and pepper.
- For the Lemon-Herb Yogurt Sauce:
- Whisk together the yogurt with the lemon juice, cilantro or mint, and lemon zest, and season with salt and pepper.
- Assemble and Serve:
- Serve the meatballs with the lentils and yogurt.
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Nutrition Facts
| Amount Per Serving | %DV |
|---|---|
| Serving Size 367g | |
| Recipe makes 4 servings | |
| Calories 857 | |
| Calories from Fat 274 | 32% |
| Total Fat 30.74g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat 7.2g | 29% |
| Trans Fat 0.31g | |
| Cholesterol 202mg | 67% |
| Sodium 1732mg | 72% |
| Potassium 1258mg | 36% |
| Total Carbs 100.73g | 27% |
| Dietary Fiber 20.2g | 67% |
| Sugars 31.53g | 21% |
| Protein 46.35g | 74% |
