lunchbox life: asian turkey meatballs with cilantro rice and veggies

It’s the last lunchbox life post of 2013!  This time next Sunday night, I’ll be doing the I-don’t-have-to-go-to-work-tomorrow happy dance, but we have one more week of review and final exams before we’re home free for Christmas.  Only FIVE more days…not that I’m counting.:-)

Tonight’s post is a super easy recipe that’s packed with flavor.  The meatball recipe is from Skinnytaste (my girl Gina never lets me down), but I used her recommended dipping sauce as the stir-fry sauce for my veggies.  I used brown basmati rice here, but you could certainly use regular white, regular brown, or white basmati if you wish.

Asian Turkey Meatballs with Cilantro Rice and Veggies

Meatballs:

1/4 cup panko crumbs

1 lb. 93% lean ground turkey

1 egg

1 tbsp ginger, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

3 green onions, chopped

1 tbsp soy sauce

2 tsp sesame oil

Stir-Fry Sauce:

4 tbsp soy sauce

2 tsp sesame oil

2 tbsp fresh lime juice

2 tbsp water

1 tbsp chopped fresh green onion

Stir Fry Veggies:

1 broccoli crown, chopped

1 red bell pepper, sliced into slivers

1 zucchini, small chopped

1 pkg. sliced white mushrooms

1 cup snow peas

Cilantro Rice:

1 cup brown basmati rice

2 cups water

1 green onion, chopped

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

Preheat oven to 500°F.

Mix ground turkey, panko, egg, salt, green onions, ginger, cilantro, 1 tbsp soy sauce, and 2 tsp oil and mix with your hands until combined well. Shape 1/8 cup meat mixture into a ball and transfer to a baking dish. Repeat with remaining mixture. Bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes.

Transfer meatballs to a serving dish. Stir sauce, then drizzle meatballs with 1 tablespoon sauce

Cook rice according to directions.  When it’s cooked, turn off the heat and add the cilantro and green onions; set aside.

For the stir-fry sauce, mix together lime juice, water, soy sauce, and remaining 2 teaspoons of oil in a bowl. Add green onions.

Stir fry the veggies in a large skillet (or a wok, if you have one) over high heat.  You can use oil if you like, but the veggies will release some moisture as you cook them.  Once the veggies begin to heat through, add the stir-fry sauce and stir through.  Serve the meatballs, rice, and veggies in any combination you like.