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Sweet and Spicy Sesame Chicken Meatballs


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  • Author: Jill Nammar
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4-6 1x
  • Diet: Gluten-Free, Omnivore

Description

Spicy-sweet meatballs glazed in a honey-sesame sauce.
Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a fun appetizer!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 lbs (907 g) ground chicken, turkey or lean beef
  • 6-8 scallions
  • 1 small piece (optional) fresh ginger
  • 1-2 small Thai chili peppers
  • 0.5 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 3.5 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 10 diced apricots or 0.3 cups (71 ml) diced dried dates
  • honey
  • Salt
  • 0.25 cups (59 ml) Fresh herb of your choice
  • Neutral oil
  • lemon or lime wedges, chopped scallions, Greek yogurt, sour cream

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients to a bowl, including a good drizzle of honey and your choice of herb; mix to combine.
  2. Wet your hands with cold water and form the mixture into small balls, about the size of large marbles or walnuts.
  3. Heat a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat with some oil. Add meatballs to the pan and sauté until golden brown on all sides and cooked through. Do not overcrowd the pan; fry in batches if necessary.
  4. Avoid burning; the honey will help caramelize the outside, resulting in a brown and crisp finish. Cover the pan occasionally to cook, but keep a close eye on them and remove the cover when almost done. Do not overcook, or they will become dry.
  5. Drizzle more honey over the cooked meatballs and roll to coat. Place reserved sesame seeds on a plate and roll the meatballs in the seeds to coat.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, finely grate the ginger and finely mince the chili peppers before adding them to the meatball mixture.
  • If using dried apricots or dates, soak them in warm water for 10-15 minutes to soften before adding to the mixture.
  • Leftover meatballs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in a skillet or oven.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Pan-Frying
  • Cuisine: Asian-Fusion

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 350
  • Sugar: 10
  • Sodium: 300
  • Fat: 20
  • Saturated Fat: 5
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10
  • Carbohydrates: 25
  • Fiber: 4
  • Protein: 30
  • Cholesterol: 100