Wednesday, September 11, 2013

toasted sesame turkey meatballs on smashed chickpea salad


Say hello to my new favorite dinner!

I've been obsessed with using toasted sesame oil lately. I've been adding it to salad dressings, marinades... everything. But this has got to be my favorite use so far!

These meatballs have an awesome flavor from the spices, plus they have a great texture from the panko and sesame seeds. And the chickpea salad is a whole bunch of deliciousness on its own. Put these two together, and it's pure magic.

It's hearty, healthy, and just soooo good. Make this meal - you will not be disappointed!

Toasted Sesame Turkey Meatballs on Smashed Chickpea Salad (adapted from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook)
serves 2-3

for the meatballs, you'll need:
1/2 lb. ground turkey (preferably dark meat)
1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/8 cup chicken stock
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 egg white
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
dash of cayenne
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon white sesame seeds, toasted
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

for the salad, you'll need:
1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
handful of green olives, pitted, halved, and thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
handful of chopped Italian parsley
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
dash of cayenne
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
olive oil

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Combine all of the meatball ingredients in a bowl with a fork until all of the ingredients are evenly distributed. Use your hands to roll the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs and arrange them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. (Wet hands help to form the meatballs without getting sticky.) Cover with plastic and transfer to the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

To cook the meatballs, heat the olive oil and toasted sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides, then place back onto the baking sheet. Transfer the sheet to the oven and bake for 15 minutes.

While the meatballs are in the oven, make the salad: Mix everything but the olive oil in a bowl. Lightly smash the chickpeas with the back of a fork, leaving some pieces whole. Dress the chickpeas with a drizzle of olive oil and stir to combine.

Serve the finished meatballs over the salad, and enjoy!

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29 comments:

  1. I'd gobble it all up if I was there, 'cause I know how good it tastes.

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  2. That salad sounds fantastic- I bet the briny olives and the vinegar work so well with sesame! I'm a sesame oil lover as well, a little goes a long way and the stuff can be a bit addicting. Great recipe.

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    1. The olives TOTALLY make the salad. Although since I'm a little obsessed with olives, I'm probably partial. :) Thanks Ruthy!

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  3. That salad sounds fantastic- I bet the briny olives and the vinegar work so well with sesame! I'm a sesame oil lover as well, a little goes a long way and the stuff can be a bit addicting. Great recipe.

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  4. Another winner from you, Marie!! Wow, love the sound and look of this dish, thank you for sharing with us!!

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  5. Yummmm love this combo of sesame with turkey atop a chickpea salad and you got a protein packed healthy meal!

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    1. Thanks so much Sophia! Yes, delicious AND healthy is such a great combo!

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  6. Toasted sesame oil sounds go good, I can think of so many ways to incorporate it into dinner. Thanks for the ideas and this lovely dish!

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  7. I've never tried toasting sesame seed oil before! Add that to the list of things to try. :)

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  8. i love everything about this recipe!

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  9. Mmmm, smashed chickpeas. Sounds so delicious. I've got to get myself a copy of that Smitten Kitchen cookbook, there seems to be so much good stuff in there! Love the look of the sesame meatballs too. I hear you on the sesame oil. Yum, it's so delicate and fragrant. A little goes a long way :)

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  10. Thanks for posting this, Marie! I've been looking for a turkey meatball recipe that doesn't have a ton of fill-in's (milk, breadcrumbs, onions, etc.). My son loves himself some ground turkey but he doesn't usually enjoy all the other "stuff" mixed in; I think he would like these flavors. I love all things with sesame seeds and sesame oil is my cupboard staple. A little does a lot!

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    1. I bet you and your son would LOVE these! Let me know if you try them out! :)

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    2. Hi Marie - made these for dinner last night and it was really good! I wanted to try with panko like you did but went with the fresh breadcrumbs in the end because I have some bread I wanted to take advantage of. The spices and sesame gave the meatballs such great flavor. I didn't make the chickpea salad since I had leftover wild rice but I'm making something else with chickpeas tonight so we'll enjoy the leftovers with it and maybe get a similar effect. Thank you for pointing this out! I heard it's good with lamb, too. : )

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    3. I'm so glad you enjoyed them!!! Lamb sounds great!

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  11. Love this meatball dish salad style. This will make a delicious light dinner. Thanks for the recipe Marie!

    Anne ~ Uni Homemaker

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    1. Thanks Anne! Can't beat light but filling dinners.

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  12. Never cooked with toasted sesame oil before but I can see myself also getting obsessed with it. I want this right now!!

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  13. These meatballs look awesome - so much better than pre-packaged ones at the grocery store, for sure!

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  14. I am in love with this dish!! It sounds perfectly amazing!!

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    1. Thanks Jocelyn! It's a new favorite in our house!

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