Our local supermarket often has specials on ground turkey. I also happen to have lots of turkey stock in my freezer. I was reading a Vietnamese watercress soup recipe………Then I got the idea to do something Vietnamese Inspired…… So then I read a few Vietnamese meatball recipes. This came out to be a mishmash of my thoughts and what I read. it’s different from the way I’d normally make a meatball. I do note that the meatball raw meat mixture comes out very loose and is impossible to roll into balls. I used my small scooper and didn’t even worry about rolling them. This recipe makes 4 servings.

Ingredient for around 4 servings

1 lb 93% lean ground turkey – meatballs

1/2 cup scallions – sliced thin – meatballs

1 egg beaten – meatballs

1 Tablespoon fish sauce (preferably Red Boat Brand) – meatballs

2 teaspoons ginger – grated – meatballs

1 Tablespoon sugar – meatballs

1 garlic – ground to paste – meatballs

1 Tablespoon lemongrass powder (fresh is better but it’s always rotten at the stores near me. Powdered lemongrass is easy to buy on-line) – meatballs

3/4 teaspoon sea salt – meatballs

1 teaspoon ground white pepper – meatballs

neutral non-stick spray

2 Tablespoons canola oil – soup

1 onion – chopped – soup

4 garlic cloves – ground to paste – soup

6 1/2 cups stock (I used home made turkey but you can use what you want or have) – soup

1/2 small cabbage – chopped – soup

1 Tablespoon sugar – soup

1 Tablespoon rice vinegar – soup

1 teaspoon lemongrass powder – soup

2 teaspoon ginger – grated – soup

1 teaspoon fish sauce – soup

1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper (or to taste) – soup

1/2 teaspoon sea salt (or to taste) – soup

Lime wedges for serving (1/2-one lime)

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Directions

Set oven to 350 F degrees.

Spray a sheet pan with non stick spray and set to the side.

Put a sauce pot on medium high heat and add the canola oil. When the oil is hot add the onions and cabbage. Lightly cover with foil. Stir occasionally. Cook till vegetables are moist. Add the garlic. Cook till you smell it (around a minute). Then you can add the stock, sugar, vinegar, lemongrass, ginger, fish sauce, salt and pepper. Bring to boil and then reduce to simmer.

Make the meatballs. In a large mixing bowl combine the ground turkey, scallions, egg, fish sauce, ginger, sugar, garlic, lemongrass, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Scoop out 16 balls. This goes on your middle rack of a 360 F preheated oven for 15 minutes or until done.

Serve 4 meatballs per person with soup. Add a lime wedge or two. Top with some fresh cilantro.

ENJOY!!!