Sweet and Savory Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs Recipe

This savory-sweet, herbaceous meal is basically a meatball version of Thanksgiving. With a sweet and tangy glaze-the cranberry sauce and thyme- and sage-specked turkey meatballs, all you need is a scoop of fluffy mashed potatoes to bring the feelings of comfort and joy throughout the fall season. Here are some tricks to make them:

Why Greek yogurt?

Of course, the two possible pitfalls of lean ground turkey are overcooking and dryness. To avoid this, we like to include some richness of dairy in – as does the ricotta in these turkey meatballs – which has a wonderful effect of keeping them moist and as indulgently textured as their beef and pork equivalents.

What’s the difference comparing to use canned cranberry sauce compared to homemade cranberry sauce?

Either way, it’s going to be decadent! But if you do have some extra homemade cranberry sauce laying around the holidays, by all means, use it in this recipe!. Compared to the canned version, homemade sauce will be much more intensely colored and likely thicker. Because it tends to be more tart too, make sure to taste your sauce as you go and add in more maple syrup if you need it.

Can I make this ahead?

A part of the sauce as well as the meatballs can be pre-prepared ahead of the actual cooking time. It is possible to combine the meatball mixture, form into balls, and put it in the fridge for up to a whole day with a loose lid on it. It’s possible to prepare and store the sauce, and then put the lid on it and put it into the refrigerator for a whole day.

A brief history of turkey meatballs glazed with cranberry sauce

In this modern fusion recipe, Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs marry traditional American Thanksgiving flavors with the versatility of bite-sized appetizers. This dish is one example of how current fusion cuisine can be. Turkey, part of the contemporary Thanksgiving feast, has been associated with the celebrations for centuries because it used to be part of North American cuisine. The history dates back to the early settlers and their Thanksgiving with Native Americans from North America.

Cranberries have long been a part of holiday feasts in centuries as they originate from North America. Cranberry sauce became a staple itself during the 19th century on American tables. It represented the sour contrast to the richness of turkey and other traditional meals. The Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs are a dish prepared by mixing ground turkey with cranberries in a single recipe. Meatballs are the new testament to holiday-inspired comfort food, nowadays in the size of a bite.

Probably, it is this quest for newer and more convenient ways of relishing old flavors of Thanksgiving that makes this meal increasingly popular these days. Cranberry glaze is both sweet and sour-it transforms the old look of the traditional turkey meatball to provide an exquisite look and is truly a wonderful appetizer for Christmas get-togethers and all the other party times in the season.

Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs is a Flavor Profile Particularly Ahead of Its Time

The Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs have a wonderful harmony of flavors with salty and sweet mixed with a tangy quality. Traditional Thanksgiving flavors can be found in the meatball itself, normally seasoned using herbs like sage, thyme, or rosemary. As turkey is a leaner cut of meat, its flavor is somewhat mild and earthy, allowing the spices and glaze to be at the forefront of the dish.

Caramelized into a perfect sweet and sour flavoring, cranberry glaze is the star of the show for this recipe, contrasting with the savory flavor of the turkey. The cranberry, sugar-based glaze has a hint of citrus on occasion but mainly adds a brightness, a twang of acidity that cuts through the richness of the meatballs. When mixed, the natural sweetness of the cranberries and spices found in the turkey meld well into each other.

The meatballs from the turkey absorb the sweet and tart fruit sauce when they are cooked in the cranberry glaze either through baking or boiling. This made each bite moist while tasty at the same time. The addition of the glaze gives the meatballs a shiny and sticky coat that makes them not only look appetizing but also tastes better. It is during holiday seasons that the very versatile meatballs are served as appetizers, main courses or festive treats. This is so because the mixture of sweet cranberry with savory turkey makes the meatballs ideal for all the three events.

Ingredients

Meatballs

1 large egg
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped yellow onion
2 tablespoons whole-fat Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
2 tsp. chopped fresh sage
2 tsp. Worcestershire
1-tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1-lb. (94% lean) turkey-ground
1/2 cup panko crumbs

Assembly, Cranberry Glaze

1-c. commercial or homemade cranberry sauce
tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp pure maple syrup
1 Tbsp whole-grain mustard
1-tsp. finely grated orange zest
Kosher salt, 1/4 tsp
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Mashed potatoes, for serving

Direction

Meatballs

Step 1

Break the egg into a large bowl and beat it with a fork until very well combined. Add the onion, yogurt, thyme, sage, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper and use a fork to really incorporate all of the below ingredients. Mix all ingredients with clean hands using clean hands. It goes without saying that while doing it, it is absolutely necessary to introduce all of them well.

Step 2

Shape the mass for turkey into small balls roughly similar in size to tablespoon and put them in a large dish. Put the dish into the refrigerator, cover it, and let it cool in the fridge for about fifteen minutes.

Cranberry Glaze and Assembly

Step 1

In a medium bowl, whisk together cranberry sauce, vinegar, syrup, mustard, orange zest, and a few grinds of pepper.

Step 2

Heat the oil in a 12-inch cast-iron or nonstick skillet with high sides over medium heat until hot. Brown the meatballs on all sides, cooking about four minutes. Flip them over and continue to cook for about three more minutes, or until the other side browns.

Step 3

Toss gently the meatballs with the rest of the sauce until they are coated evenly. Continue cooking for three to five minutes until the sauce thickens and an instant-read thermometer put into the middle reads 165 degrees.

Step 4

Place in bowls the mashed potatoes and top it off with the rest of the meatballs and the sauce.

Conclusion

The sweet-tart nature of cranberry sauce harmoniously blends with the savory flavor of turkey. This is a great recipe for making a healthier version of beef meatballs, perfect for holiday get-togethers and potlucks or even as a weeknight dinner. The cranberry glaze is glossy in consistency and is palatably enticing. These turkey meatballs will surely be a hit with your guests and become a staple of your holidays either as an appetizer or as a main dish.

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