Asian Spaghetti and Meatballs

C’mon, admit it, everyone goes straight to the “Chinese noodles” at the Asian Buffet. Don’t deny it. They’re the best part of a takeout box, the best midnight snack, and the best thing to satisfy a cheat day craving.

But, there’s no real protein. For a plate of noodles to feel like a meal, there has to be a meat. The natural pairing with spaghetti? Meatballs, of course.

So, these meatballs are spiked with ginger, garlic, green onion, sesame oil, and all things yummy. They bake in the oven while you prepare the pasta. The pasta is dressed with a soy sesame dressing, and they serve as the perfect bed for the meatballs. There are a few steps in this recipe, but none of them are hard, and it’s a lot easier than fighting traffic to get to a certain panda-themed takeout restaurant.

INGREDIENTS:

Meatballs:

• 1 pound ground beef or turkey
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 2 eggs
• 3 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1/2 cup thinly-sliced green onions
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Noodles:

• 1 package spaghetti
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon garlic
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 cup sugar snap peas
• 1/2 bell pepper, sliced
• 1/2 cup zucchini, sliced
• 1/2 cup green beans, trimmed (you can use any veggies you like!)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt&pepper to taste
• Garnishes (optional): sesame seeds, sliced jalapenos, extra green onions and hot sauce, a lime wedge.

To prepare:

Make the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 400. Gently combine the meatball ingredients in a large bowl. Do not over mix. Bake on a greased baking sheet for ten minutes, until cooked through.

Boil the spaghetti according to package directions

Make the sauce: Combine remaining ingredients- excluding olive oil- in a bowl and taste for seasoning.

Saute’ the veggies: Heat olive oil in a large pan. Add veggies and stir. Cook until tender.

When the pasta is done, throw it into the pan with the veggies. Pour sauce over the top and toss to combine.

Serve a pile of noodles and veggies with meatballs on top.

Garnish with additional green onions, hot sauce, sliced jalapenos, sesame seeds.

Greek Turkey Meatballs with Gorgeous Greek Salad

Well, finals week hit, and it hit me hard. Between the alcohol-laden parties, ice cream dates, Starbucks runs, and Chipotle tacos, I need to detox before Christmas!

Of course, it is important to remember that, no matter what, a little weight gain will happen this time of year, and that’s what January is for! However, I honestly want to pump some veggies and lean protein into my body. I need some energy and some nutrition!

But, I can’t quite make my family content with just salad or just a chicken breast and veggies every day. I have to spice it up!

Introducing: Grain-free turkey meatballs. I use Parmesan instead of breadcrumbs. Is it quite the same texture? Okay, no. But it’s delicious, and it has so much flavor, and I actually prefer the crumbly meatball with the salad because I can break it up throughout. So, I think it’s absolutely worth trying, not just for the lower carbs, but for the deliciousness!

Top it with my favorite, naturally-healthy sauce: Tzatziki! Now, you can make or buy almost every dressing with Greek yogurt, but the Greeks did it well before the yogurt-craze! Twenty Five year old recipes call for thick-style yogurt; it’s not a substitution here, it’s the original! And, it adds great, unique flavor unlike anything else.

What could possibly go better with Greek meatballs than a bountiful salad bursting with cucumber, onion, feta, and olives? A light dressing on top, and it’s a healthy dinner that will prep me for the next week without making me feel deprived. It is the Holidays, after all.

You can also make the meatballs and sauce for your Holiday party as something lighter to fill up on! Meatballs are a classic, and these are different than the usual cocktail- style. I assure you, they’ll be a hit. Make the sauce a few days ahead, and you’re one step closer to your contribution!

Dig in and dig on, my friends! If you want to bulk it up a little for a crowd, add some pita bread on the side or buy a tub of stuffed grape leaves.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound ground turkey (or beef if that’s what you have)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup minced parsley
• 3 tablespoons onion, grated with a zester or cheese-grater (I’m so sorry)
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1.5 Tablespoons lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 dash oregano (I hate the stuff, so I don’t use much. Add more if you like)
• Salt & Pepper
• 4 Tablespoons fat-free crumbled feta cheese

For the salad :

• 1 large head Romaine lettuce, chopped (Yes, I know real Greek Salad has no lettuce, but I’m bulking it up. Leave it out if you’re that pretentious)
• 1 large cucumber, diced
• 1 large red onion, diced
• 1/2 cup fat-free feta (or full fat if you’re not me this week)
• 1/2 cup kalmata or mixed olives
• 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes (or more if you like)
• a mixture of 3 tablespoon red wine vinegar and 1 tablespoon honey
• salt & pepper

For the sauce:

• 1/2 cup cucumber, finely diced or grated
• 1.5 cups plain fat-free Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon dill
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2-3 tablespoons minced parsley
• salt & pepper

TO MAKE THE MEATBALLS:

Preheat the oven to 450′

Mix together all of the ingredients but the feta and turkey. Once combined, gently work the feta and turkey into the mixture. If it’s over-mixed, they’ll be tough, so that’s why we get everything else together first!

Bake on a greased, foil-lined baking sheet for 12-15 minutes, until totally white in the middle with brown bits.

TO MAKE THE SALAD:

Combine all ingredients but vinegar/honey mix, feta, and salt/pepper. Drizzle vinegar/honey  and seasoning over the top. Toss in the feta, being careful not to mutilate it.

TO MAKE THE SAUCE:

Whisk all ingredients together until smooth! Taste for salt.

HOW IT GOES DOWN:
Once everything is done, pile a huge scoop of salad on your plate. Top it with meatballs or eat them on the side, however you role, then drizzle with LOTS of sauce.

Hope you like it! I certainly do!