Greek Style Turkey Meatballs and Feta Salad
I was recently writing a piece on the best foods to help fight stress and I was reminded of my turkey meatball recipe. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, found in turkey meat is important for the production of serotonin and often hailed as the ‘feel good hormone’. Studies have shown that that depression and stress can be reduced and mood significantly enhanced when foods high in tryptophan are consumed. And who does love meatballs?!
There are a number of other nutrients such as Vitamins B, C & D, Omega 3 and minerals selenium and magnesium that are also important to the bodies ability to handle stress. So these tasty meatballs team so well with a nutrient packed feta salad for all the feel good benefits these foods offer.
To make these super simple and tasty meatballs you simply need to combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl, roll into balls and bake for 30 minutes! No added stress here!!
Even better, this makes for a perfect family recipe that can be adapted to suit all tastes.
*Leave out the salt if sharing with younger children.
*Sub the parsley for basil or oregano and serve with a tomato sauce and spaghetti.
*Double the recipe and make smaller balls for a fun party finger food.
*Save the any left overs for a greek inspired turkey sandwich the next day with hummus and crunchy cucumbers.
These meatballs are gluten free, soy free and egg free; you could make them diary free by leaving the sprinkle of cheese off the top no problem.
Ingredients:
500g ground turkey mince, ideally one with some % of fat in it
2 heaped tbsp of finely chopped flat leaf parsley
1 tsp garlic granules
1 tsp ground black pepper
Salt to taste; optional
Grated parmasan cheese for topping the meatballs
Method:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a pan with baking paper
Simply combine all the ingredients in a large bowl, being sure to distribute everything evenly
Take a large tablespoon of the mix and using damp hands, roll into even balls and place on the baking paper. This should make around 12 small to medium sized balls.
Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes; before adding the cheese on top of the meatballs and place back in the oven for a final 5 minutes.