Mouthwatering Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Pine Nuts Turkey Meatballs

Name: Mouthwatering Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Pine Nuts Turkey Meatballs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 3 cloves of garlic; 1 medium jalapeno (cut into large chunks); 1 bunch of parsley (1-inch of the bottom stem removed); 1/2 cup onion (large chunks); 1 pound ground turkey (93% lean, 7% fat); 1 large egg; 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs; 2 tablespoon olive oil; 2 tablespoons pine nuts; 2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika powder; 1 teaspoon turmeric powder; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 lemon (juice and zest)

Comforting spicy, juicy turkey meatballs with a crunch from pine nuts, a citrus kick from aromatic zests, and a fresh flavor from herbs and jalapenos made in the air fryer.

author's hand holding up a cooked turkey meatball

Without the Stress

Are you craving warm and mouthwatering comfort food that's completely packed with healthy ingredients? Check out these Lemon Pine Nuts Turkey Meatballs! But before we get started, let's talk about the mess that can come with making meatballs. They get sticky and can take a long time to cook. Have you ever tried to scoop them out, only to have them crumble in half or fall apart entirely?

Furthermore, dry meatballs can be frustrating, to say the least. But don't worry. With these easy steps and a few key ingredients, you'll be ready to reduce the stress and enjoy your yummy meatballs in no time. So let's start this mouthwatering journey that will fire up your taste buds!

If you love meatballs, then you'll have to try Turkey Meatball Wraps - Lemon pine nuts turkey meatballs with fresh tomatoes, zhug, olives, feta cheese, pickled cabbage, and tzatziki sauce on a warm whole wheat flatbread. Chicken Meatballs & Israeli Couscous Vegetable Soup - The Mediterranean spiced savory meatballs and couscous pasta pearls with carrots, zucchini, spinach, and mushrooms in a harissa lemon chicken broth.

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Without the Stress
Ingredients
Instructions
Substitutions
Equipment
Storage
Serving Suggestions
Frequently Asked Questions
Mediterranean Recipes
Poultry Recipes
Recipe
📖 Recipe
Food safety

Ingredients

To prepare the meatballs, small chop the garlic, jalapeno, parsley, and onions using a food processor. Then in a mixing bowl, you'll combine the herb onion mixture with ground turkey, an egg, panko breadcrumbs, olive oil, pine nuts, salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, smoked paprika, turmeric, cumin, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Then you'll form them into balls and fry them in the air fryer for only 10 minutes! If you don't have an air fryer, don't worry, I included instructions for the oven.

ground turkey, chopped green seasoning, spices, pine nuts, bread crumbs and cracked egg in a metal mixing bowl

Instructions

The food processor helps speed up prep time for the turkey meatball recipe instead of wasting time and labor chopping up the onion, garlic, and herbs by hand. Once chopped, add the herb mixture into the mixing bowl with the rest of the meatball ingredients, mix, scoop, and fry.

whole green seasoning in the food processor container on a wooden cutting board

Add 1-inch pieces to the food processor and remove large stems for better blending.

chopped green seasoning in the food processor container sitting on a wooden cutting board

Blend to coarsely chopped pieces to ensure incorporation to distribute the flavor evenly.

Mix everything in a stainless steel bowl to prevent sticking.

ingredients mixed in a metal mixing bowl

Use your hands to combine everything well.

air fried meatballs in the air fryer basket evenly spread out 3 by 3

Leave enough space to ensure even cooking. Crowding can cause steaming.

air fried meatballs in a glass food storage container

Refrigerate in a glass air-tight container to keep them fresh longer.

Busy Folks: Become a better home cook with tips to help you cook more efficiently on Cook's Notebook tab. You'll also find more detailed steps for the instructions above.

Substitutions

Quick Seasoning - You can also use Italian seasoning to substitute herb seasonings.

Change the recipe's heat level to your liking and learn more about the Scoville Scale and Chili Pairings.

Equipment

Food Processor - Used to small chop the garlic, jalapeno, parsley, and onion quicker for the turkey meatball recipe. If you do not have a food processor, you can small chop by hand. If you are looking for a food processor, I suggest the KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper. Also, it's super easy to use with a simple press down, and now the new model comes with a drizzle basin, great for making dressings and pesto.
Mixing Bowl - A medium mixing bowl will be large enough to combine all the ingredients.
Medium (2.6 tablespoons) stainless steel scoop - I brought the Fayomir Cookie Scoop Set, which comes with three, and you would use the medium-sized one, which is about two tablespoons.

Storage

Refrigerator - To store in the refrigerator, you can place the meatballs in a shallow 2-inch pan to cool down quickly. Then store in an air-tight sealing container. They will last up to four days.
Freezer - First, follow the refrigeration process mentioned above. Then you can place it in a labeled, airtight container or freezer-sealing bag in the freezer.

Serving Suggestions

Serve them with a side of rice and vegetables, in a pita, as a flatbread wrap or pizza, or even in soup. Such as, try serving them with Easy Spiced Brown Rice with Quinoa, steamed broccoli, Harissa Carrot Salad, cumber, and tomato salad with fresh lemon tahini sauce.

Also, use them to make a pita sandwich with hummus with Quick Zhug Sauce. Alternatively, try a Turkey Meatball Wrap with fresh tomatoes, zhug, olives, feta cheese, pickled vegetables, and tzatziki sauce on a whole wheat flatbread.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kofta?

Kofta recipes differ slightly depending on the Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian, and European regions. For example, you'll find them prepared in Turkey, all the way to Lebanon. The word itself means pounded meat, from the Urdu language.

You'll notice the different variations and form shapes into balls or cylinder shapes on a metal rod. However, one constant thing is using ground lamb or beef mixed with herbs and spices like cumin, coriander, parsley, and mint. The mixture is then shaped into small balls before being grilled or baked until perfectly cooked.

Why Ground Turkey for Meatballs?

Ground turkey is a great healthy alternative to beef! Therefore, these make great low-calorie meatballs that are healthy, easy to make, and robust in flavor. It's lean and packed with protein, making it perfect for those looking to watch their waistline. Not only that, but it's incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Making them a win for meal prep - you can use them in everything from burgers to tacos.

How to Prevent Broken Meatballs?

Use a perfect combination of binders, such as eggs and panko. Panko is Japanese breadcrumbs that are lighter than traditional breadcrumbs that can be lower in sugar and sodium. So you get the binding without the extra stuff you don't want. Also, when combining the ingredients, ensure there are no areas with only turkey meat. You want to ensure every piece is evenly seasoned to make excellent meatballs.

How to Prevent Food From Sticking to My Air Fryer Basket?

You can oil the rack with avocado oil if needed to prevent any sticking.

What is Zesting?

Zesting is the process of peeling only the skin of the citrus fruit without the white flesh, referred to as pith. For example, the skin contains aromatic oils and is an excellent addition to recipes to intensify the flavors of a dish. A fine grater is the most convenient way to obtain the zest of the citrus fruit, usually referred to as zester or a Microplane. Visit Cook's Notebook: Zesting to learn more.

What Does High Smoke Point Oil Mean?

Oils that can withstand high heat at 400 degrees or more before smoking. I recommend Avocado or Canola Oils for the air fryer. Visit Cook's Notebook: High Smoke Point Oil to learn more.