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Flavorful Nye Cocktails Dinner Bowl with Turkey Meatballs

turkey meatballs chimichurri dinner bowl - featured image
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A quick and easy dinner bowl featuring juicy turkey meatballs and vibrant chimichurri sauce, served over quinoa or brown rice with roasted tomatoes, sautéed greens, and avocado.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) ground turkey (preferably lean)
  • 1/3 cup (30g) panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil (for cooking)
  • 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, packed
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, packed
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa or brown rice
  • 1 cup roasted cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup sautéed greens (spinach or kale)
  • 1 ripe avocado, sliced
  • Lemon wedges (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chimichurri Sauce: In a food processor, combine parsley, cilantro, garlic, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes. Pulse until coarsely chopped. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while blending until combined but textured. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside or refrigerate for 15 minutes.
  2. Make the Turkey Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, mix ground turkey, panko breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, parsley, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper gently.
  3. Form Meatballs: Shape mixture into 1 ½-inch (4 cm) meatballs, about 18 total, keeping size uniform.
  4. Cook the Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook meatballs in batches for 4-5 minutes per side until browned and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Avoid overcrowding.
  5. Prepare the Grain Base: Cook quinoa or brown rice according to package instructions. Fluff and keep warm.
  6. Roast Cherry Tomatoes: Toss tomatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes until blistered.
  7. Sauté Greens: Quickly sauté spinach or kale in olive oil until wilted, about 2-3 minutes. Season lightly.
  8. Assemble the Dinner Bowl: Divide quinoa or rice into bowls. Top with turkey meatballs, roasted tomatoes, sautéed greens, and sliced avocado. Drizzle chimichurri sauce generously. Serve with lemon wedges if desired.

Notes

Do not overmix the meatball mixture to keep meatballs tender. Let meatballs rest after cooking to lock in juices. If chimichurri is too thick, add water or more olive oil to loosen. For gluten-free, substitute panko with almond flour. Baking meatballs at 400°F for 20 minutes is a good alternative to pan-frying.

Nutrition

Keywords: turkey meatballs, chimichurri, dinner bowl, quinoa, healthy dinner, easy recipe, weeknight meal, gluten-free, dairy-free

Find it online: https://avabowls.com/flavorful-nye-cocktails-dinner-bowl-with-turkey-meatballs-easy-homemade-recipe/