Coriander Apricot Meatballs
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This warming, mildly spicy recipe is perfect for the cold weather. The meatballs are stewed in a flavorful sauce made with ginger, coriander, garlic, jalapeno, orange juice and zest, apricot preserves, and tomatoes. It can be served with rice and a fresh green vegetable of your choice,
The meatballs can be made with turkey or beef. It will take no more than 90 minutes from start to finish. I prefer to make this dish one day ahead of time so the meatballs and sauce have time to marinate. I have made this recipe numerous times throughout the years. It is a keeper! |
Meatball Ingredients:
1 lb. ground turkey (1/2 thigh and ½ breast) or ground beef
1 small onion, diced small or pulsed thru food processor
2 cloves of garlic, pressed or finely minced
¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 egg beaten
1 tsp. ground coriander
½ tsp. chili pepper flakes
1 tsp. salt
Sauce:
2 tbsp. olive oil
4 cloves garlic minced
1 inch piece fresh ginger root, peeled and diced fine.
1 large or 2 small jalapeño peppers, seeded and diced
1 tsp. coriander
2 cups (16 oz.) whole, peeled tomatoes, pureed
½ cinnamon stick
¼ tsp. ground clove
½ cup apricot preserves
zest of one large orange or 2 teaspoons
Juice of 1 large orange
1 tsp. salt or to taste
¼ tsp. ground black pepper
Directions Meatballs:
1.Preheat oven to 350F. Combine all meatball ingredients and form into balls (about 15). They will be sticky. Place on a parchment lined sheet pan and bake for 10 minutes. You can also use foil but rub the foil with a little vegetable oil. Turn meatballs over and bake for another 8 minutes.
Directions Sauce:
1. Sauté garlic, ginger root, and jalapeño pepper in olive oil for about 2 minutes. Add coriander and sauté for another minute.
2. Add pureed tomatoes, cinnamon stick, clove, black pepper, apricot preserves, orange rind, and orange juice. Whisk lightly to break up the apricot preserves.
3. Bring just to a boil and then let simmer for ½ hour covered.
4. Add meatballs and let simmer for about approximately 30 minutes covered.
5. Add salt if needed.
Serve with rice and/or green vegetable. Steamed carrots will also go well with this recipe.
1 lb. ground turkey (1/2 thigh and ½ breast) or ground beef
1 small onion, diced small or pulsed thru food processor
2 cloves of garlic, pressed or finely minced
¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 egg beaten
1 tsp. ground coriander
½ tsp. chili pepper flakes
1 tsp. salt
Sauce:
2 tbsp. olive oil
4 cloves garlic minced
1 inch piece fresh ginger root, peeled and diced fine.
1 large or 2 small jalapeño peppers, seeded and diced
1 tsp. coriander
2 cups (16 oz.) whole, peeled tomatoes, pureed
½ cinnamon stick
¼ tsp. ground clove
½ cup apricot preserves
zest of one large orange or 2 teaspoons
Juice of 1 large orange
1 tsp. salt or to taste
¼ tsp. ground black pepper
Directions Meatballs:
1.Preheat oven to 350F. Combine all meatball ingredients and form into balls (about 15). They will be sticky. Place on a parchment lined sheet pan and bake for 10 minutes. You can also use foil but rub the foil with a little vegetable oil. Turn meatballs over and bake for another 8 minutes.
Directions Sauce:
1. Sauté garlic, ginger root, and jalapeño pepper in olive oil for about 2 minutes. Add coriander and sauté for another minute.
2. Add pureed tomatoes, cinnamon stick, clove, black pepper, apricot preserves, orange rind, and orange juice. Whisk lightly to break up the apricot preserves.
3. Bring just to a boil and then let simmer for ½ hour covered.
4. Add meatballs and let simmer for about approximately 30 minutes covered.
5. Add salt if needed.
Serve with rice and/or green vegetable. Steamed carrots will also go well with this recipe.