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  • Turkey-Date Meatballs with Lentils and Yogurt Sauce

    1 vote
    Turkey-Date Meatballs with Lentils and Yogurt Sauce
    Prep: 1 hours Cook: 30 min Servings: 4
    by Katherine
    3 recipes
    >
    Ground turkey meets slightly sweet chopped dates in these healthy, baked meatballs adapted from a recipe in Food & Wine Magazine. Accompanied by lentils simmered in cinnamon and garlic and a tangy yogurt sauce it's a complete meal ready in just a little over 1 hour.

    Ingredients

    • Turkey Meatballs:
    • 1 pound ground turkey
    • 2 cups fresh bread crumbs
    • 6 dates, pitted and finely chopped
    • 2 large eggs, beaten
    • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
    • 1 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
    • Salt and freshly ground pepper
    • Cinnamon-Garlic Lentils:
    • 1 cup French green lentils
    • 5 garlic cloves, crushed and peeled
    • 1 cinnamon stick
    • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1½ tablespoons sherry vinegar
    • 2 teaspoons salt
    • ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
    • Lemon-Herb Yogurt Sauce:
    • 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
    • 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro or mint
    • 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
    • Salt and freshly ground pepper

    Directions

    1. For the Turkey Meatballs:
    2. In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey with the bread crumbs, dates, eggs, sesame seeds, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Form the turkey mixture into 1-inch meatballs. Spread the meatballs on a lightly oiled large rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, turning once, or until browned on the bottom and cooked through.
    3. Cinnamon-Garlic Lentils:
    4. While the meatballs are cooking, prepare the lentils. In a medium saucepan, cover the lentils, garlic and cinnamon stick with 2 inches of water; bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately low heat until the lentils are tender, about 25 minutes. Drain the lentils and transfer to a bowl; pick out and discard the seasonings. Stir the olive oil and vinegar into the lentils and season with salt and pepper.
    5. For the Lemon-Herb Yogurt Sauce:
    6. Whisk together the yogurt with the lemon juice, cilantro or mint, and lemon zest, and season with salt and pepper.
    7. Assemble and Serve:
    8. Serve the meatballs with the lentils and yogurt.

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