Italian Turkey Meatballs

I love meatballs. I’m not the only one. It runs in the family. My dad named his iPod, “Meatball.”

I’ve been working on healthier, allergy-free meatball recipes since I discovered my food allergies in 1995. Let me tell you, recreating meatballs into a healthier, gluten-free, paleo, even egg-free variation that is equally delicious is no simple task. Built off of my original Italian meatball recipe, I think I finally cracked some codes when it comes to allergy-free meatballs!

Tricks for Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Egg-free Meatballs

Beef vs.Turkey Meatball

How do you replace veal, pork and beef (the Italian meat holy trinity) with ground turkey? Cooking blasphemy, no? If you use ground turkey that contains some dark meat you will retain a higher fat content than if you use all white meat. Fat adds flavor. I find these meatballs super flavorful with all white meat, but if you love the dark meat or are struggling with changing your diet and leaving red meat behind, you can do it in steps. Moving from ground beef to ground turkey that contains some dark meat is a great step.

Note that ground bison works great in this recipe. Closer in flavor to beef, I love making gluten-free, dairy-free bison meatballs for a healthier meatball option. Bison is lower in cholesterol than chicken and is quite low in fat! Just follow the same recipe below using ground bison for turkey.

Gluten-free vs. Grain-free Meatball

You can make these meatballs gluten-free or grain-free with the variety of breadcrumb options. Almond flour and ground pepitas are my favorite grain-free binders for meatballs. Both add flavor and healthy fats (remember fat adds flavor!), while binding the meatballs. And, of course, if you eat grains, you have plenty of options for gluten-free breadcrumbs. I don’t find much difference in the final meatball using different gluten-free or grain-free binders.

Dairy vs. Dairy-free Meatball

These meatballs are easy to make dairy-free. I find that unsweetened non-dairy milk works the same as regular milk to help keep your meatballs soft inside. The cheese, however, is a little trickier to substitute. Pecorino Romano, a sheep’s milk cheese, or Parmesan, a cow’s milk cheese, are hard salty cheeses. I use the Pecorino Romano because I am not allergic to sheep’s milk, only cow’s milk. The dairy-free Parmesan cheese makes a fine substitute for cheese in this recipe. If anything, you may need to add an extra touch of salt. IMO the dairy-free cheese is not as salty as the real cheese.

Egg vs. Egg-free Meatball

The egg, as usual, is the toughest ingredient to substitute if you are egg-free. In our meatballs, the whites work as a binder, they create a lighter texture, and they add flavor. When replacing egg whites, I prefer flax seeds in this recipe because I like the nutty flavor the flax seeds provide. The flax egg will work as a binder and add flavor. IMO it won’t provide the lighter texture that egg whites give. That is the one difference I find with the egg-free meatball. Still delicious, just slightly different in texture. The milk, however, will help keep your meatballs soft, balancing this out.

Can You Make this a Paleo Italian Turkey Meatball?

I believe so!

1. Use almond flour or ground pepitas for the binder.
2. Use the dairy-free Parmesan for the cheese.
3. If the dairy-free Parmesan cheese doesn’t work for you, you can always use about 1 tsp of Ume Plum Vinegar for each TBS of cheese.
   • Be careful, Ume Plum Vinegar is very salty, which is why is makes a great dairy-free swap for a hard salty cheese. Add a small amount at a time!
   • If you use Ume Plum Vinegar for the cheese expect to add 2-3 TBS more binder (almond flour or ground pepitas) to compensate for the missing cheese.

Gluten-free Italian Turkey Meatballs

Dairy-free, Egg-free, Gluten-free or Grain-free, Sugar-free, Paleo-friendly, Soy-free

These Italian Turkey Meatballs were also featured in my Italian Marinara Quinoa Recipe in case you missed them!

Print Recipe

Gluten-Free Italian Turkey Meatballs

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time30 mins

Author: Angela Marinelli, M.S., M.Ed.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey ground bison works well for a beefier flavor
• 2 large cloves garlic
• 1/3 cup yellow onion
• 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley pre-chopped
• 1/4 cup basil pre-chopped
• 1 tsp coarse salt
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 3 TBS Pecorino Romano cheese OR dairy-free Parmesan cheese*
• 3 TBS low sodium chicken or beef stock
• 1/3 cup egg whites OR 4 tsp flax or chia seeds ground, plus 4 TBS stock
• 1 TBS unsweetened non-dairy milk
• 2-3 TBS gluten-free breadcrumbs almond flour, or ground pepitas
• Olive oil and sea salt for baking or frying

*Note

• If you don't like sheep's milk cheese or vegan cheese as an option you can 1 tsp of use ume plum vinegar to substitute for 1 TBS of a hard salty cheese. Ume plum vinegar is very salty so add in small amounts, but this is why it makes a great dairy-free swap.
• If you go this route increase your almond flour or breadcrumbs by 2-3 TBS.

Instructions

Mix

• Put ground meat in a mixing bowl. Spread apart. Add salt.
• Put garlic, onion, parsley, basil, cheese, red pepper flakes and broth in a food processor. Blend until all ingredients are finely chopped and it makes a slurry.
• Pour slurry onto ground meat.
• Add egg whites or chia/flax egg.
• Mix all ingredients into the ground meat with your hands until fully and evenly incorporated.
• Add bread crumbs, almond flour, or pepitas. Mix into the meat with your hands until fully incorporated.
• For best results, cover and refrigerate seasoned meat for at least 6-8 hours.

Fry:

• Remove meat from fridge 20-30 minutes before ready to cook.
• Form 3-4 ounce meatballs and shape into balls. (I use an ice cream scoop).
• Heat a fry pan (I prefer an iron skillet), covered lightly with olive oil to medium/medium high heat.
• Place meatballs in the pan once it's hot. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt.
• Fry meatballs over medium to medium high heat until all four sides of the meatballs are brown, about 8-10 minutes.
• Cook to 165F if not transferring to sauce and eating immediately.
• If transferring to sauce, meatballs can be slightly underdone and finish cooking as they simmer in sauce for 15-20 minutes..

OR Bake!

• Remove meat from fridge 20-30 minutes before ready to cook.
• Preheat oven to 375F.
• Form 3-4 ounce meatballs and shape into balls. (I use an ice cream scoop).
• Line meatballs on a baking sheet.
• Lightly spray meatballs with olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes and transfer to sauce.

Notes

Copyright: Angela Marinelli, M.S., M.Ed., Nourishment Connection 2017