Sweet Turkey and Quinoa Meatballs

This has got to be one of the best quinoa recipes I ever was given and everyone who has tried them has loved them.


Sweet Turkey & Quinoa Meatballs
Makes 6 Servings (about 4 meatballs per serving)
Toss the cooked meatballs with our tangy sweet & sour sauce, place them on a platter with a frilly toothpick in each one, and you’ve got the makings of a festive and fun party food!
· 1 pound lean ground turkey
· 1 large egg, beaten
· 3/4 cup cooked quinoa
· 1/3 cup golden raisins, coarsely chopped
· 2 tablespoons ketchup
· 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
· 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce (I use GF)
· 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
· 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
· 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil then spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the turkey, egg, quinoa, raisins, ketchup, basil, soy sauce, salt, garlic powder, and pepper until well combined. Using a medium cookie scoop with a release (we used a 1½ tablespoon scoop which made 1¾-inch balls), form into 22 to 24 meatballs. Bake until cooked through and golden brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and toss with the Sweet & Sour sauce (see recipe below).
Tip: For the quinoa, cook 1/4 cup dry quinoa according to package directions. The yield will be 3/4 cup.
Sweet & Sour Sauce (I don’t' toss the meatballs in this, rather use it as a dipping sauce, so I tend to need to either double or triple this recipe)
· 1/2 small can pineapple juice (3 ounces)
· 2 tablespoons ketchup
· 2 tablespoons brown sugar
· 1½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
· 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (I used 1/4) (Lea & Perrins is GF)
· 2 teaspoons cornstarch (I used 1 tsp)
· 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
· 1/8 teaspoon mustard powder
· 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1. Whisk together the pineapple juice, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, cornstarch, garlic powder, mustard powder, and ground ginger until well combined. Place in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, stirring constantly until thickened, about 2 minutes. (Recipe adapted from About.com.)
Nutrition Information per Serving: 220 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated), 440mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate, 1g fiber, 16g protein, 10% vitamin C, 10% iron