Healthy Chicken Meatballs that Taste Amazing

Turkish Style Meatballs – this super quick and easy healthy recipe is so delicious. The meatballs are made from chicken and packed with all the flavours of my favourite Turkish kebabs. It’s paired with a crunchy orzo salad and some tangy pickled onions. Enjoy x JGS

Serves 4

For the meatballs
600g chicken breasts
1 red pepper, roughly chopped
40g breadcrumbs
4 cloves garlic
1 small egg
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp Turkish pepper flakes
2 tsp sumac
2 tbsp neutral oil

For the salad
240g orzo
1 red onion, finely sliced
The juice of 2 lemon
1 tsp sumac
½ Cucumber
2 large Tomatoes
A handful of finely chopped Parsley leaves
1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
1 tbsp olive oil
Yogurt to serve

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180c fan. To make the meatballs, chuck the chicken, pepper, breadcrumbs, garlic, egg, paprika, Turkish pepper flakes, sumac and loads of salt into a food processor and blitz together. Wet your hands and roll out 16 meatballs. The mixture is quite wet so just do the best you can. Pop them into the fridge to firm up for 20 minutes.
2. Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat and add the meatballs. You can do this in batches. Cook for 3-4 minutes on two sides until golden. Pop the pan into the oven and cook for 6-8 minutes until cooked though.
3. Meanwhile, chuck the onions into a bowl with the juice of a lemon, sumac and some salt. mix together. Leave for 10 minutes to soften.
4. Meanwhile, cook the orzo for 6-8 minutes or until al dente. Cool completely with cold water and drain well. Chuck into a mixing bowl and add the cucumber, tomatoes, parsley, pomegranate molasses, olive oil and a pinch of salt. mix well.
5. To serve, divide the salad between four serving bowls. Add the yogurt? And top with the meatballs. Add a big pinch of the onions to each one and serve immediately.