Chicken & turkey

Turkey Albóndigas

Name: Turkey Albóndigas
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: Spanish
Ingredients: 500g turkey mince (2% fat); 40g porridge oats; 4 cloves (20g) garlic, crushed; 15g fresh parsley, finely chopped; 6g (2 tsp) smoked paprika; 3g (1 tsp) ground cumin; 3g (½ tsp) salt; 1g black pepper; 1 (150g) onion, finely chopped; 300g roasted red peppers, from a jar, drained; 1 × 400g tin chopped tomatoes; 15ml olive oil; 1 cube chicken stock cube; 250ml water

Tender turkey meatballs with garlic, parsley and smoked paprika, baked and then simmered in a smooth roasted red pepper and tomato sauce.

makes 19 blocks, about 36p each

Jump to recipe

Illustration of a bowl of Turkey Albóndigas

Time: 1 hr 5 min25 min prep · 40 min cook
Makes: 19 blocks
Cost per blockPer block: 36p
Calories per blockCalories: 59 kcal
Fibre per blockFibre: 1g

Ingredients

Batch size

blocks

500gturkey mince (2% fat)
40gporridge oats
4 cloves (20g)garlic, crushed
15gfresh parsley, finely chopped
6g (2 tsp)smoked paprika
3g (1 tsp)ground cumin
3g (½ tsp)salt
1gblack pepper
1 (150g)onion, finely chopped
300groasted red peppers, from a jar, drained
1 × 400g tinchopped tomatoes
15mlolive oil
1 cubechicken stock cube
250mlwater

Allergens: none of the 14 major allergens in the ingredients as listed. Check the labels on stock cubes, sauces and pastes, as brands vary.

Nutrition

estimated

	1 block	3 blocks
Energy	59 kcal	177 kcal
Protein	6.4g	19.2g
Carbs	4.3g	12.9g
Fat	1.7g	5.1g
Fibre	1g	3g
Salt	0.54g	1.62g

Method

Step 1: Heat the oven to 200°C fan and line a baking tray with baking paper. Soak the oats in 45ml of the water for 5 minutes.
Step 2: Mix the turkey with the soaked oats, half the garlic, the parsley, half the paprika, the salt and pepper. Roll into about 30 walnut-sized meatballs with wet hands and bake for 15 minutes until lightly browned.
Step 3: Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large, deep pan over a medium heat and soften the onion for 8 minutes. Add the rest of the garlic and paprika and the cumin for 1 minute.
Step 4: Add the roasted peppers, tomatoes, the rest of the water and the stock cube, simmer for 5 minutes, then blend smooth with a stick blender.
Step 5: Add the meatballs and any juices from the tray, cover and simmer gently for 15 minutes until cooked through and the sauce has thickened.
Step 6: Cool and freeze in 70g blocks.

Hotter: add ½ tsp hot smoked paprika or a pinch of chilli flakes to the sauce.

Serve it

Crusty bread and a green salad · Rice with peas · Boiled new potatoes

Nutrition (estimated)
	kcal	protein	carbs	fat	fibre	salt
Per block	59	6.4g	4.3g	1.7g	1g	0.54g
Per 3 blocks	177	19.2g	12.9g	5.1g	3g	1.62g

Cook’s notes

The mixture is soft without egg, so wet your hands to roll the meatballs and handle them gently.
Pork mince, or half pork and half beef, is the traditional choice and gives richer meatballs.
Spanish sweet smoked paprika (pimentón dulce) gives the deepest flavour.

Serve it

Crusty bread and a green salad · Rice with peas · Boiled new potatoes.

Freeze, reheat and serve

Freeze: Cool it within two hours, portion it into 70g blocks in a silicone tray, then bag and label them. It keeps for 3 months.
Reheat: Microwave 3 blocks, covered, for 1 minute, stir, then heat for another 1 to 2 minutes until piping hot all the way through. Or warm them in a pan with a splash of water. Never refreeze thawed blocks.
A portion: 3 blocks (210g) make a dinner for one adult: about 177 kcal and 19.2g protein before rice, bread or potatoes.

Turkey Albóndigas questions

Why oats instead of breadcrumbs?

Soaked oats do the same job as soaked bread: they hold the meatballs together and keep them moist. With gluten-free oats, the meatballs are gluten-free too.

Why bake rather than fry the meatballs?

Baking is less hands-on than frying in batches, uses less oil and helps the soft, egg-free meatballs keep their shape. They finish cooking in the sauce.

Can I use fresh peppers?

Roast 3 red peppers at 200°C fan for 25 minutes until blackened, cover them for 10 minutes, then peel and deseed. Use them in place of the jarred peppers.