Thai Style Meatballs with Spicy Peanut Sauce
How-to Use Turkey or Beef to Create a Main Dish with an Asian Flair
Jul 16, 2009
The meatballs can be made a day or two ahead of time, and stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve along with the spicy peanut sauce. This recipe can easily be doubled, and served buffet style at a party. Keep the meatballs and sauce warm using a chafing dish, or crock pot set on low.
Turkey meatballs, served with spicy peanut sauce, are a great introduction to Thai-style Asian food. Coconut milk, chili peppers, ginger, cumin, coriander and cilantro are ingredients commonly used in Thai cooking.
Ingredients for Thai-Style Meatballs
- 1 1/4 pounds ground turkey
- 1 small bunch green onions - diced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger root
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup plain bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Directions for Thai-Style Meatballs
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add the ground turkey to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir into the turkey until well blended.
- Measure out level tablespoon sized portions of the meatball mixture, and place on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- Cook for approximately 18-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are no longer pink in the center.
- Remove the meatballs from the oven, and set aside until they are ready to be added to the spicy peanut sauce.
Ingredients for the Spicy Peanut Sauce
- 1 can (14 ounces) unsweetened coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1/3 cup chicken stock
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger root
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Directions for the Spicy Peanut Sauce
- Add the coconut milk to a large sauce pan or stock pot.
- Place the pan on the stove over medium heat.
- Whisk in the peanut butter and chicken stock.
- Whisk in the chili flakes, cumin, coriander, ginger, garlic, salt and sesame oil.
- Continue cooking and stirring the sauce until the peanut butter is completely melted and incorporated into the sauce.
- Stir in the cilantro and reserved turkey meatballs.
- Continue cooking until the meatballs are heated through.
- Serve immediately.
Recipes Tips and Suggestions
1. Ground beef can be used in place of the ground turkey, if desired. If ground beef is used, the meatballs may require an additional few minutes of cooking time.
2. A milder version of this recipe can be made by adding less red chili flakes to either the meatballs, or the spicy peanut sauce.
3. Not everyone enjoys the taste of cilantro leaves. Flat leaf parsley can be substituted for the cilantro, if desired.
4. Japanese-style breadcrumbs, called panko, can be used in this recipe. Panko, made from either white or whole wheat bread, can be found in most grocery stores.
Additional Recipe Suggestions
Thai-style meatballs can be served along with egg rolls if desired. See the Asian-Style Spring Roll recipe for restaurant quality egg rolls that can be made at home.
Serve cool and crisp Asian-Style Vegetable Salad with ginger teriyaki dressing along with the Thai-style meatballs.
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