Recipes Health Conditions Cancer Protection Cilantro & Scallion Turkey Meatballs With Teriyaki By Stephanie Lang, MS, RDN, CDN facebook twitter instagram Stephanie Forsythe, MS, RDN, CNSC, is a registered dietitian nutritionist who has developed recipes and blog content for Savor Health. Learn about our editorial process Stephanie Lang, MS, RDN, CDN Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard Fogoros, MD on March 10, 2017 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Review Board Richard Fogoros, MD Updated on September 20, 2019 Print Stephanie Lang, MS, RDN, CDN (34 ratings) Total Time: 30 min Prep Time: 15 min Cook Time: 15 min Servings: 4 (4 meatballs and 1 T sauce) Nutrition Highlights (per serving) 302 calories 17g fat 9g carbs 29g protein Show Nutrition Label Hide Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings: 4 (4 meatballs and 1 T sauce) Amount per serving Calories 302 % Daily Value* Total Fat 17g 22% Saturated Fat 2g 10% Cholesterol 103mg 34% Sodium 802mg 35% Total Carbohydrate 9g 3% Dietary Fiber 1g 4% Total Sugars 5g Includes 4g Added Sugars 8% Protein 29g Vitamin D 0mcg 0% Calcium 38mg 3% Iron 2mg 11% Potassium 468mg 10% *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. Red meat, which refers to beef, lamb, and pork, is linked to colorectal cancer risk when consumed in amounts beyond 18 ounces per week. If you tend to eat a diet high in red meat, try swapping some of it out for a leaner protein like chicken or turkey. Meatballs, especially turkey meatballs, are a great vehicle for getting in extra veggies and herby flavors. Here, we add finely grated carrot and chopped cilantro and scallion. Use both the green and white parts of the scallion. While the slim white bulbs have a stronger flavor, the green scallion leaves actually have a greater concentration of phytonutrients than the bulbs. Instead of using a store-bought teriyaki sauce, make your own with a quick soy sauce and ginger-garlic base that gets cooked down with a little brown sugar and cornstarch to thicken. Serve this as a high protein appetizer or a main entree with stir-fried broccoli. Ingredients 2 medium scallions, chopped 1 medium carrot, grated on the fine holes of a box grater (about 1/2 cup finely grated carrot) 1/2 medium bunch cilantro, chopped (about 1 cup) 1 large egg 2 tablespoons sesame oil 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce or tamari 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 1 pound ground turkey 2 tablespoons canola oil, for pan-frying 3/4 cup water 3 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce or tamari 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger 1 small garlic clove, minced or pressed 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 teaspoons corn starch Preparation To make the meatballs: in a large bowl, mix together the scallions, carrot, cilantro, egg, sesame oil, soy sauce, black pepper, and ground turkey with a fork until evenly combined. Place the mixture in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes to chill and firm up (can also do this ahead of time and let sit in the refrigerator overnight). Scoop out the meatball mixture by the heaping tablespoon and roll into balls (aim for 16). Heat a cast iron or heavy skillet over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon canola oil and drop in half of the meatballs. Cook 4 minutes per side or until golden brown on the outsides and cooked through on the inside. Repeat with remaining tablespoon oil and meatballs. To make the teriyaki sauce: in a medium saucepan, whisk together water, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sugar, and cornstarch. Heat over medium high heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture boils and thickens. Turn off the heat and stir for another 30 seconds. Serve the meatballs with the teriyaki sauce. Ingredient Variations and Substitutions This recipe works equally well with ground chicken instead of turkey. Don't like cilantro? Sub in Thai basil or fresh flat-leaf parsley. Like spicy food? Add a few shakes of a hot chili garlic sauce to both the meatballs and the teriyaki sauce. Cooking and Serving Tips Food safety is especially important when preparing meat. Purchase a meat thermometer so that you can be sure your food is cooked to the proper internal temperature to reduce risk of foodbourne illness. For poultry, the safe internal temperature is 165F. Rate this Recipe You've already rated this recipe. Thanks for your rating! Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get simple, delicious recipes to help you eat well without feeling deprived. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit