That's a Spicy Turkey Meatball

Name: That's a Spicy Turkey Meatball
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: CRANBERRY GLAZE; 12 oz bag of cranberries, fresh or frozen; 3/4 c sugar or sugar substitute; 1 c water; 2 tsp orange zest; 2 Tbsp honey; 2 tsp apple cider vinegar; 1 tsp cayenne, or more if you enjoy a kick; 2 Tbsp crytallized ginger, minced (optional); TURKEY MEATBALLS; 1 lb ground turkey; 1/3 c ricotta cheese; 2 medium eggs; 1 tsp celery salt; 1 pepper; 1 tsp sage; 2 tsp thyme; 3 clove garlic, minced or pressed; 1/2 c panko bread crumbs, plain or italian; 1/4 c dried sweetened cranberries, minced or chopped (optional)

By Kim Biegacki
@pistachyoo

Alright, this recipe is a combination of several recipes and some of my own innovation. I love the homemade fresh cranberry glaze that is tangy, sweet and spicy all in one bite. Adding the glaze to the very moist meatballs and it is delish; along with the addition of dried cranberries in the meatball itself just adds another dimension of goodness.

This is a think out of the box spicy sweet cranberry meatballs recipe that I hope you enjoy as much as we do.

Rating:

★★★★★ 3 votes5

Comments:

6 Comments

Prep:

15 Min

Cook:

35 Min

Method:

Stove Top

Ingredients

CRANBERRY GLAZE
12 oz

bag of cranberries, fresh or frozen
3/4 c

sugar or sugar substitute
1 c

water
2 tsp

orange zest
2 Tbsp

honey
2 tsp

apple cider vinegar
1 tsp

cayenne, or more if you enjoy a kick
2 Tbsp

crytallized ginger, minced (optional)
TURKEY MEATBALLS
1 lb

ground turkey
1/3 c

ricotta cheese
2 medium

eggs
1 tsp

celery salt
1

pepper
1 tsp

sage
2 tsp

thyme
3 clove

garlic, minced or pressed
1/2 c

panko bread crumbs, plain or italian
1/4 c

dried sweetened cranberries, minced or chopped (optional)
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How to Make That's a Spicy Turkey Meatball

Step-by-Step

Mix all the ingredients for the cranberry glaze together except for the cayenne, ginger and zest, approx. 15 minutes till all the berries burst. Next, strain through a fine mesh strainer. Then add your orange zest, ginger and cayenne pepper to taste.

This glaze is just enough to coat the meatballs, so if you plan on keeping these in a crockpot I would double the glaze recipe and make it more into a sauce by adding more water. This is thick sauce and stays on the meatball well.
Mix together the eggs and ricotta till blended. Then, mix in the remaining ingredients till well blended. If it is too moist add a little more bread crumbs and if you need more moisture you could add a little whole milk. Now take two tablespoons and form your meatballs or with your hands, whichever you prefer.

I have noticed there is a different amount of moisture to ground turkey depending on what brand and such. Overall, these are incredibly moist meatballs.
Bake meatballs on a nonstick pan for 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees, turning occasionally until they are cooked through. Or you can fry them in a small amount of oil in a pan, whichever way you cook them both work well.
Next, place your cooked meatballs into a pan with your sauce and place on a low heat till they are nice and hot. Toss the meatballs in the sauce till well coated too.
You can serve these as an appetizer or as a meal on top of some rice, noodles, stuffing or dressing and another side dish.

These are so moist and very delicious. They have a nice heat and sweetness to them.

Next time I am going to grate the ginger on after I have them in the dishes for a garnish and see how it goes over.