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Vietnamese-Style Turkey Meatballs with Yogurt Sauce Recipe

Contributors: Tessa Nguyen, RD, LDN

Reviewers: Academy Staff RDNs

Published: May 31, 2022

Reviewed: March 25, 2025

Vietnamese-Style Turkey Meatballs with Yogurt Sauce Recipe
Rebecca Clyde, MS, RDN, CD

This protein-packed dish has a few modern twists and features a commonly utilized Vietnamese ingredient: lemongrass.

Ingredients

Meatballs
1 pound ground white meat turkey (93% lean, 7% fat)
1 lemon, juice and zest (or 1 tablespoon chopped lemongrass)
2 green onions, sliced
1 teaspoon chopped cilantro
½ teaspoon turmeric
1 garlic clove, minced
½ teaspoon ground ginger
Salt to taste (optional)

Yogurt Sauce
1 (5.3 ounces) container plain Greek yogurt
¼ teaspoon turmeric
2 green onions, sliced
1 teaspoon chopped cilantro

Directions

Before you begin: Wash your hands.

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. In a medium-sized bowl, thoroughly mix together the ground turkey, lemon juice and zest (or lemongrass), green onions, cilantro, turmeric, garlic, ginger and optional salt.
  3. Using a tablespoon measuring spoon, portion out the meat mixture and roll portions into one-inch meatballs. Place meatballs on a foil-lined sheet tray and bake for 15 minutes. The internal temperature should reach at least 165°F; if not, continue cooking until it reaches this minimum temperature.
  4. While meatballs are cooking, make the yogurt sauce: Mix together the Greek yogurt, turmeric, green onions and cilantro in a small serving dish.
  5. Remove meatballs from oven and serve immediately with yogurt dipping sauce.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 5 meatballs
Serves 4

Calories: 231; Total Fat: 13g; Saturated Fat: 5g; Cholesterol: 91mg; Sodium: 92mg; Total Carbohydrate: 4g; Dietary Fiber: 1g; Sugars: 2g; Protein: 24g; Potassium: 370mg; Phosphorus: 278mg

References

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