Hoisin Turkey Meatballs
Leave the shop-bought sachet on the shelf and simmer these low-calorie turkey meatballs in our homemade Hoisin-style sauce. Served with Basmati rice or noodles, they make for a slimming-friendly midweek meal that’s fast and flavourful.
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NutritionPer Serving
- Calories270
- Carbs22g
- Protein35g
- Fat4.1g
- Saturates1.2g
- Sugars6.5g
For the full list of ingredients and comprehensive instructions, please see the recipe card below. Before you scroll, there’s important stuff in the blurb!
If you love Chinese-style food, why save your favourite flavours for the weekend? These Hoisin Turkey Meatballs are ideal for a midweek dinner that’s a little out of the ordinary. You might think to pair meatballs with a tomato-based sauce and spaghetti, but this Asian-inspired twist is well worth trying.
To keep the calories down, we’re using super lean turkey mince to make our meatballs. We’ve also said goodbye to a supermarket jar of Hoisin sauce – our version has all the flavour, for a fraction of the calories.
We’ve replicated the tangy balance of salty and sweet with soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, granulated brown sweetener and peanut butter powder, which is such a handy slimming-friendly swap. We use this powder in all kinds of sweet and savoury recipes – it’s much lower in fat and calories than traditional peanut butter.
This is such a versatile recipe that you can dish up with fluffy rice, noodles, chips or even mashed potatoes!
What diets is this Hoisin Turkey Meatballs recipe suitable for?
These Hoisin Turkey Meatballs can be enjoyed on a dairy free diet. You can also make this recipe gluten free, as long as you substitute the bread and dark soy sauce for suitable gluten-free alternatives.
As always, take extra care when cooking for people with allergies and be sure to use different utensils, cookware and preparation areas.
Do you need any special ingredients to make Hoisin Turkey Meatballs?
You’ll need some peanut butter powder to make this recipe. With far fewer calories and less fat than traditional peanut butter, this powdered version is so handy when you want to make slimming friendly recipes.
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This peanut butter powder from Amazon will come in handy for lots of different recipes.
A mini chopper is perfect for making homemade breadcrumbs.
How many calories are in these Hoisin Turkey Meatballs?
There are 270 calories per portion in this Hoisin Turkey Meatballs recipe, which means it falls into our Everyday Light recipe category. If you’re counting calories or following one of the popular diet plans like Weight Watchers, this recipe fits in perfectly!
NHS guidelines suggest men should aim for 2,500 calories per day to maintain a healthy body weight, and women require around 2000 calories. Each person has different calorie requirements depending on their goal, so you may want to adjust your daily calorie intake according to your own personal goal.
Step 1
Place the bread in a food processor or mini chopper and blitz until it becomes fine breadcrumbs. Alternatively, you can use a coarse grater to make the breadcrumbs.
Step 2
Place the breadcrumbs in a medium bowl with the turkey mince, garlic, root ginger, spring onion, Chinese five spice powder and egg. Season well with salt and pepper.
Step 3
Using clean hands, mix the turkey mixture until well combined and divide into 12 equal pieces. Shape into 12 balls and set aside.
Step 4
For the sauce: spray a large frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and place over a medium heat. Add the red pepper, green pepper, garlic and chilli and fry for 5 minutes, stirring, until just beginning to soften.
Step 5
Add the meatballs and seal on all sides for about 5 minutes, turning them carefully, until lightly browned all over.
Step 6
In a small bowl, mix the peanut butter powder with 2 tbsp water until smooth. Stir in the soy sauce, sweetener, rice wine vinegar and 400ml water.
Step 7
Tip the sauce mixture into the frying pan with the meatballs and simmer, uncovered, over a low heat for 15-20 minutes. Turn the meatballs occasionally and make sure there are no signs of pinkness after cooking.
Step 8
Blend the cornflour with 2 tbsp water until smooth. Pour into the sauce in the frying pan and stir in. Simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
Step 9
Sprinkle with chopped spring onion and serve with Basmati rice or noodles.
What could I serve with these Hoisin Turkey Meatballs?
These tasty turkey meatballs are more versatile than you might think. We love them served on a bed of Basmati rice, to soak up all that delicious Hoisin sauce. 125g of cooked Basmati rice is around 173 calories, taking the full meal to 443 calories.
This recipe would also work well with any of the following side dishes:
How do you know when Hoisin Turkey Meatballs are cooked?
You should cook these Hoisin Turkey Meatballs until the meatballs are cooked all the way through, with no pinkness left in the middle, and the sauce has thickened. This should take 25-30 minutes.
Here in the UK, the standard advice is to cook food until it has reached 70°C and maintained that temperature for 2 minutes. This is to keep you and your family safe!
How long can you keep Hoisin Turkey Meatballs in the fridge?
We’d recommend that you eat this recipe within 4 hours of serving it.
If you have any leftovers, allow them to cool completely before popping them in a container with a lid and refrigerating. Leftovers of this Hoisin Turkey Meatballs recipe can be kept in the fridge for 1 or 2 days.
Can I freeze Hoisin Turkey Meatballs?
Yes you can! This recipe can be frozen, but please remember to do the following;
- Freeze it as soon as it is cold enough.
- Use a container or bag that is suitable for freezing.
Don’t forget to add a label with what it is, and on what date you put it in the freezer!
How do I reheat Hoisin Turkey Meatballs?
From chilled: Place in a frying pan, add a couple of tablespoonfuls of water, cover and gently simmer for 10-15 minutes or until piping hot.
From frozen: Allow to defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat from chilled.
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Hoisin Turkey Meatballs
Leave the shop-bought sachet on the shelf and simmer these low-calorie turkey meatballs in our homemade Hoisin-style sauce. Served with Basmati rice or noodles, they make for a slimming-friendly midweek meal that’s fast and flavourful.
-
Prep Time
25 MINS
-
Cook Time
30 MINS
- KCals 270
- Carbs 22G
Instructions
- Place the bread in a food processor or mini chopper and blitz until it becomes fine breadcrumbs. Alternatively, you can use a coarse grater to make the breadcrumbs.
- Place the breadcrumbs in a medium bowl with the turkey mince, garlic, root ginger, spring onion, Chinese five spice powder and egg. Season well with salt and pepper.
- Using clean hands, mix the turkey mixture until well combined and divide into 12 equal pieces. Shape into 12 balls and set aside.
- For the sauce: spray a large frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and place over a medium heat. Add the red pepper, green pepper, garlic and chilli and fry for 5 minutes, stirring, until just beginning to soften.
- Add the meatballs and seal on all sides for about 5 minutes, turning them carefully, until lightly browned all over.
- In a small bowl, mix the peanut butter powder with 2 tbsp water until smooth. Stir in the soy sauce, sweetener, rice wine vinegar and 400ml water.
- Tip the sauce mixture into the frying pan with the meatballs and simmer, uncovered, over a low heat for 15-20 minutes. Turn the meatballs occasionally and make sure there are no signs of pinkness after cooking.
- Blend the cornflour with 2 tbsp water until smooth. Pour into the sauce in the frying pan and stir in. Simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
- Sprinkle with chopped spring onion and serve with Basmati rice or noodles.
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Recipe notes
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8 comments
See what others have to say
ShellMonday 17th April 2023
Hi I don’t have peanut butter powder, could I use normal peanut butter? If so how much thanks 😊
SharonThursday 20th April 2023
Hi Shell, yes you could use 1 tbsp peanut butter if you prefer. Hope you enjoy the recipe!
MichelleWednesday 4th January 2023
Hi, if you can’t find the brown sweetener can you use normal one for this recipe?
HollyThursday 5th January 2023
Hey Michelle, yes you can swap for white granulated sweetener instead of the brown, hope that helps!
SiânTuesday 3rd January 2023
Hi
My partner has a peanut allergy- is there an alternative you can use in the sauce instead?
Thanks
Siân
HollyThursday 5th January 2023
Hey Sian, you could swap for another nut butter most supermarkets have a range of nut butters to choose from such as cashew nut or almond, hope that helps!
JoFriday 18th November 2022
Another winner … super easy and very delicious. I did go a bit rogue and added extra veg in the form of carrots..
HollyMonday 21st November 2022
Hey Jo, so glad to hear you enjoyed the meatballs and your extra veg! Don’t forget to submit any photos or tips to our Gallery where you can be in with a chance to win exclusive PON swag!
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