Asian Inspired Chicken Meatballs

Food Kuel Category Expert: Janet Neustedter

When you think of meatballs..most likely what comes to mind is big Italian seasoned meatballs.

All layered in a delicious marinara and piled on a heaping plate of spaghetti noodles, right? And although that is absolutely magnificent…

Why not change it up a little? This was my inspiration to make meatballs and go a little sideways! Instead of beef, I bought organic, no antibiotics or hormones, ground chicken. Then, I went to Asia! I brought in all the Asian flavors of garlic, ginger, sesame and made a sweet and spicy sauce.

“The recipe is gluten-free, using almond flour instead of traditional breadcrumbs.”

One of the greatest joys for me, as a foodie and recipe developer, is to use flavor and different spices to make new meals. With this recipe, I used fresh ginger to bring in some spice. I also used a mixture of ketchup, honey, and red pepper flakes for the sauce. The recipe is gluten-free, using almond flour instead of traditional breadcrumbs. This left the meatballs very moist and full of flavor.

We Are What We Eat:

Why buy the chicken hormone-free and antibiotic-free? Why look for words like organic and pasture-raised? As shoppers, in general, when we go to the grocery store, we shop in remote control without really stopping to look. We trust our food suppliers to sell us food that is good for us… but that is not always the case! Farm factory chickens are kept in very tight quarters. Literally on top of each other and they walk in their own feces. The environment is not healthy and consequently, the chickens can get sick. To prevent that, they are injected with hormones to help them grow faster and fatter, and antibiotics preventatively to ward off infection and illness.

Remember always, we are what we eat. It is always prudent to stop and look and make sure that the meat you are buying is the absolute best product for you!

I hope you enjoy this recipe! Give it a try and let me know what you think!  I am a Functional Medicine Health Coach, and help people identify, shop, and prepare healthy food to feel amazing!

Asian Inspired Chicken Meatballs (GF):

For the Meatballs:

• 2 lbs natural no hormones, no antibiotic ground chicken meat
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder or one garlic clove minced
• ½ tsp cumin
• ½ tsp coriander
• Fresh cracked pepper
• Tsp sea salt
• Tbs liquid aminos (*gluten-free soy sauce)
• 1/3 c almond flour
• 1-inch fresh ginger root peeled and grated with a Microplane, or 1 tsp dried ginger
• 1 cage-free, naturally raised no antibiotics or hormones egg

For the Sauce:

• 1 cup organic catsup, no corn syrup
• 3 Tbs honey
• 1 Tbs sesame oil
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 3 Tbs liquid aminos
• 1 tsp garlic salt or 1 clove garlic minced
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger or 1 tsp dried
• 1 scallion chopped

Instructions How To Make Asian Inspired Chicken Meatballs:

Set the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Take all the ingredients for the meatballs and mix them together. Plop down tablespoon-size meatballs next to each other and bake for 20 minutes, until they are browned on top.

While They Bake, Prepare The Sauce:

In a medium saucepan, put the sauce ingredients and set them to medium-low. When the meatballs are done put them into the sauce with any juices from the baking pan. Cook for 20 – 30 minutes on medium-low heat to incorporate flavors (or longer, set on medium-low). Make some white rice and stir-fry vegetables to go along with!

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About the Author:

Janet is a restaurant trained chef, who has always had a healthy cooking interest. After being exposed to the term Functional Medicine, Janet became energized with the connection of food being medicine and food potentially being harmful (in the case of allergies). That connection inspired her to become certified in Functional Medicine Health Coaching. Functional Medicine is about identifying and addressing the root cause of diseases. Food is often a part of that link. People with stomach “issues” may just need a simple adjustment in the food they eat to have less pain. People trying to lose weight can do it without 100 burpees or running marathons. As a certified Functional Medicine coach, she helps clients identify what foods can help meet specific health goals. You can learn more about Janet on her site – Here4You.