Meatballs

Meatballs are a versatile food for all occasions - spaghetti and meatballs, Swedish meatballs, meatballs as appetizers...Here are six meatball recipes to help you through the day, including Chipotle Albondigas Meatballs and Mini Meatball Appetizers with Apricot Dip. Enjoy!

MEATBALLS WITH CRANBERRY BARBECUE SAUCE

Yield: 24 mini meatballs, 1 per serving.

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/meatballs-with-cranberry-barbecue-sauce

Ingredients

1/2 pound ground beef Brisket

1/4 pound ground beef Ribeye Steak Boneless

1/4 pound Ground Beef (95% lean)

1 cup seasoned stuffing mix

1 egg, beaten

3 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Cranberry Barbecue Sauce:

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1/2 cup chopped white onion

1 tablespoon minced garlic

2-1/2 cups fresh cranberries

1/2 cup orange juice

1/2 cup water

1/3 cup ketchup

1/4 cup light brown sugar

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

2 tablespoons molasses

1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper

Salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 400F. Combine Brisket, Ribeye, Ground Beef, stuffing mix, egg, water, garlic, salt and pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into twenty-four 1-1/2-inch meatballs. Place on rack in broiler pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake in 400F oven 13 to 15 minutes until 160F.

Meanwhile, prepare Cranberry Barbecue Sauce. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes or until tender, but not brown. Add remaining ingredients, stirring to combine. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until cranberries burst and mixture has reduced to thick consistency, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Transfer mixture to blender container. Cover, allowing steam to escape. Process until smooth. Season with salt, as desired.

Serve meatballs with barbecue sauce.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 66; Fat: 1 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Fiber: 0.7 g; Sodium: 108 mg; Cholesterol: 19 mg; Protein: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g

SWEDISH MEATBALLS

Recipe Yield: Yield: 12 servings

Source: Forbidden Foods Diabetic Cooking

Book Title: Forbidden Foods Diabetic Cooking

View this at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/swedish-meatballs

Ingredients

1 egg

1/2 cup low-fat (1%) milk

2 slices white bread, lightly toasted and made into coarse crumbs

1/2 small onion, minced

2 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 pound ground skinless turkey breast

1/2 pound lean ground pork

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk the egg with the milk and bread crumbs; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the onion, parsley, salt, allspice, and nutmeg; blend well. Add the meats and stir with a fork until well blended. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes.

Sprinkle with flour on a pice of waxed paper and place next to the meat bowl. Shape the meat into 48 meatballs, about 1 tablespoon each. Dip each meatball lightly in the flour and place on a baking sheet. Set aside.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of the oil. Add half the meatballs and cook until browned all over, 5 minutes. Cover and cook the meatballs until the meat is no longer pink, 20-25 minutes, turning occasionally. (Remaining meatballs should be refrigerated.) Transfer the cooked meatballs to a bowl, cover, and keep warm.

Remove any small meat pieces from the skillet. Repeat step 3 with the remaining meatballs.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 106; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 65 mg; Cholesterol: 54 mg; Protein: 15 g; Carbohydrates: 5 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Starch, 2 Very Lean Meat

ITALIAN MEATBALL SOUP

Recipe Yield: Yield: 8 servings (about 2 cups each)

Source: 1,001 Recipes For People with Diabetes

Book Title: 1,001 Recipes For People with Diabetes

https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/italian-meatball-soup

Ingredients

1-1/2 pounds ground turkey

2 egg whites

1/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs

4 cloves garlic, minced, divided

3 tablespoons Italian seasoning, divided

Olive oil cooking spray

4 cans (15 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth

3 cups water

2 cups green beans, diagonally cut into 1/2-inch pieces

4 medium carrots, sliced

2 medium onions, coarsely chopped

8 ounces thin spaghetti, uncooked, broken into 2-to 3-inch pieces

2 medium plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped

Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Mix ground turkey, egg whites, bread crumbs, 2 cloves of garlic, and 2 tablespoons of Italian seasoning until well blended; shape mixture into 32 meatballs. Spray large saucepan with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot. Cook meatballs until browned on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes.

Add chicken broth, water, green beans, carrots, onions, remaining 2 cloves garlic, and remaining 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning to saucepan; heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, covered until vegetables are almost tender, about 8 minutes.

Heat soup to boiling; add pasta and tomatoes. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 270; Fat: 8.7 g; Sodium: 174 mg; Cholesterol: 31.7 mg; Protein: 19 g; Carbohydrates: 30.2 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Bread, 2 Meat, 1/2 Fat

CHIPOTLE ALBONDIGAS MEATBALLS

Recipe Yield: Yield: Makes 12 servings, 1 per serving

https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chipotle-albondigas-meatballs

Ingredients

1 pound Ground Beef

1/4 cup soft whole wheat bread crumbs

1 large egg, slightly beaten

4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided

2 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon ground chipotle chili powder, divided

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce

Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions

Combine Ground Beef, bread crumbs, egg, 2 tablespoons cilantro, 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 24 one-inch meatballs. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Place meatballs in skillet; cook 8 minutes or until browned on all sides.

Add tomato sauce, remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro and remaining 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 8 to 10 minutes, stirring once.

Serve meatballs on skewers or on platter with toothpicks. Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 95; Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Fiber: 0.7 g; Sodium: 324 mg; Cholesterol: 41 mg; Protein: 9 g; Carbohydrates: 3 g

MINI MEATBALL APPETIZERS WITH APRICOT DIP

Recipe Yield: Yield: 36 mini meatballs, 1 per serving

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/mini-meatball-appetizers-with-apricot-dip

Ingredients

1 pound Ground Beef (96% lean)

1/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs

2 egg whites or 1 egg, beaten

2 tablespoons water

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Dip:

3/4 cup apricot preserves

3/4 cup barbecue sauce

2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard

Directions

Heat oven to 400F. Combine Ground Beef, bread crumbs, egg whites, water, salt and pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into thirty-six 1-1/4-inch meatballs. Place on rack in broiler pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake in 400F oven 15 to 17 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat preserves, barbecue sauce and mustard in medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil; reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally or until sauce thickens slightly.

Add cooked meatballs and continue to cook 2 to 3 minutes or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally. Serve or keep warm in slow cooker (see tip below).

To keep meatballs warm, place in 2-1/2-quart slow cooker set on LOW. Keep covered to maintain heat. Meatballs can be held up to 2-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 45; Fat: 1 g; Fiber: 0.1 g; Sodium: 126 mg; Cholesterol: 7 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g

TURKEY AND VEGGIE MEATBALLS WITH FENNEL

This is from Diabetes Self-Management. To view this online, click here.

Yield: 6 servings. Serving size: 6 meatballs.

Serving suggestion: Top with a lower-sodium meatless marinara sauce.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground turkey

1/2 cup finely chopped green onions

1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper

1/3 cup old-fashioned oats

1/4 cup shredded carrot

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 egg whites

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Combine all ingredients except oil in large bowl; mix well. Shape into 36 (1-inch) balls.

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add meatballs; cook 11 minutes or until no longer pink in center, turning frequently. Use fork and spoon for easy turning. Serve immediately or cool and freeze.*

*Note: To freeze, cool completely and place in gallon-size resealable food storage bag. Release any excess air from bag and seal. Freeze bag flat for easier storage and faster thawing. This will also allow you to remove as many meatballs as needed without them sticking together. To reheat, place meatballs in a 12×8-inch microwavable dish and cook on HIGH 20 to 30 seconds or until hot.