This is one recipe that will surprise your guests. The assertive spices together with the cooling Yoghurt Dipping Sauce made this a hit at my party. They look like ordinary meatballs but the flavor is anything but ordinary.

Make them really small. If people like them, they go back for more. If the spices are not to their taste, they’ve only had one bite.

One pound of ground turkey makes approximately 40 meatballs. So this is a very economical recipe. For my party of 25 guests, I doubled the recipe and made 80 meatballs. It sounds like a lot but there were only a handful left.

Maybe it was because they were made from turkey (healthy) or maybe it was because they were so spicy (tasty). I’m not sure, I didn’t ask. I just watched them disappear.

 

MINI TURKEY MEATBALLS

EVENT: Apps & Alcohol

YIELDS: 40 Mini Meatballs

 

Ingredients

1 lb ground turkey

1/3 cup Panko breadcrumbs

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon aleppo pepper (substitute 1/4 teaspoon cayenne)

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 egg, beaten

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

Ground black pepper to taste

Equipment

Baking sheet or broil pan

Saute pan

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine ground turkey and all other ingredients. Mix until combined.

2. Take a small pinch of ground turkey mixture, form a tiny ball and saute in neutral oil. Taste for seasoning. The spices should be assertive. Correct seasoning to your taste.

3. Form into 3/4-inch balls. Place balls on a baking sheet or broiler pan. Broil in oven turning once. These cook quickly, approximately 5 minutes.

4. These can be made in the morning and kept at room temperature until party.

 A NOTE: This recipe can easily be doubled. You won’t need to increase egg as one is still moist enough for 2 pounds of ground turkey.

 

YOGHURT DIPPING SAUCE

EVENT: Apps & Alcohol  

Ingredients

16 oz (1 lb) plain Greek yoghurt *

6 teaspoons chopped basil

5 cloves garlic, crushed

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Directions

1. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl.

2. Taste for seasoning.

* A NOTE: I buy the Greek yoghurt at Costco.