Asian Style Turkey Meatballs with Green Beans and Thick Peanut Sauce

Last week I had a big time craving for some Asian flavored food. The ginger and garlic and soy and PEANUT SAUCE! Mmmmm. I decided to make some really lean turkey meat balls and some green beans. What really sent this dish over the top though, was the thick peanut sauce that I drizzled over top. Actually, it was so thick that I'm not sure drizzle is the right word. Maybe slop. Or slather. Yes, slather is the right word.

Asian Style Turkey Meatballs with Green Beans and Thick Peanut Sauce

I've never made anything like this before, but I was so sure about the flavors, that I made 2 1/2 pounds of these little guys! For two people. Yeah, I never was good at math. 

But you can easily cut the recipe in half. Also, I don't see it in the store very often, but you could just as easily use ground chicken. Just make sure to get the lean kind so that you are skipping the fat.

Asian Style Turkey Meatballs
      makes about 60 small meatballs
2.5 lb ground lean white meat turkey
2 grated carrots
2 T chopped cilantro
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp ginger, freshly grated
1/4 C grated onion
1/2 tsp pepper
4 T reduced sodium soy sauce
1 tsp sriracha
1 C panko

Asian Style Green Beans
1 lb fresh green beans, washed, stems removed
1 T sesame oil
1 T reduced sodium spy sauce

Thick Peanut Sauce
1/4 C natural creamy peanut butter
2 T reduced sodium soy sauce
3 tsp sriracha
1 tsp sesame oil
3 tsp water
1/2 tsp brown sugar

Garnish
Chopped peanuts
Chopped green onions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet {or 2} with foil. In a large bowl, combine the turkey, carrots, cilantro, garlic, beaten eggs, ginger, onion, pepper, soy sauce, sriracha, and panko. Spray hands with non-stick cook spray, form meat balls, and place on prepared pan. I made mine about 1 in - 1 1/2 in. Cook for 18 - 20 minutes, or until cooked through.

Mean while, clean and prepare green beans.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the sesame oil and add the green beans. Add the soy sauce and cook until beans are tender-crisp.

For the sauce, if you are heating it up in the microwave, add all ingredients to a small microwave safe bowl and stir to combine. Microwave until heated through. If preparing on the stove, in a small sauce pot over medium heat, add all ingredients and cook until heated through.

To assemble this dish, place a layer of green beans on a plate, top with several meat balls, slather the thick peanut sauce on top, and top with chopped peanuts and green onions. 

I guess you could technically call the sauce a "peanut butter" sauce, but who's really keeping track? All you need to know if that the sauce is to DIE for, especially over the meat balls and green beans. But honestly, I could eat it all by itself!