Turkey-Bean Balls & Tennis Racquets

Turkey Meat-balls are my go-to comfort food anytime of the year and especially this time of the year. A variation of this dish(Meatballs with raisins and marinara sauce) was posted during my first week of blogging. For this recipe though, meat-balls were made smaller with Sesame seeds, Turkey and Roman beans. Racquet-pasta was used to add a whimsical touch.Looks great and tastes great.

Ingredients:

• Lean cut turkey - 1/2 pound
• Stale wheat bread - 2 slices
• Cooked Roman Beans or Red kidney beans - 1 1/2 cup (Soak overnight and pressure cook it with salt)
  
• Garlic - 5 cloves, 3 if bigger, minced
• Red onion - 1, small, diced
• Baby Spinach leaves- 2 handfuls, cleaned and drained
• Egg white - 1
• Cracked pepper - 2 tsp or more
  
• Salt - for taste
• Racquet Pasta - 3 servings, cooked as per package instructions
• Sesame seeds - 2 tbsp
• Lemon - 1/2, juiced
• Cilantro - 1 tbsp, fine diced
  
• Olive oil - 3 tbsp

Procedure:

• Toast the wheat slices and let it cool. Break the hard slices and grind it to coarse crumbs.
• Smash half a cup of the cooked roman beans and set aside.
  
• Toast the sesame seeds on a low flame until they are browned evenly. Grind 11/2 tbsp of it to a fine powder. Save the rest for garnish.
  
• In a bowl, add the turkey, minced garlic, diced onions, powdered sesame seeds, pepper, salt, juice of a lemon, diced cilantro, smashed roman beans, egg white and finally the crumbs.
• Mix all the above ingredients using hands and divide them into small marble-sized balls.Should come to 25-30 even balls.
  
• In a deep and wide skillet, heat a tbsp of oil and slow cook the meat balls in batches for about 10-15 minutes per batch or until the center is no longer pink.
  
• Remove the balls to a separate plate.In the same skillet, add the spinach,wilt it slightly and set aside.
  
• In the same skillet, heat the remaining oil and add the remaining cup of beans and season with little cracked pepper.
• Add the cooked pasta and the turkey-bean balls. Check for taste. Add pepper or salt if needed.
• Switch off the stove and add the spinach. Mix gently.
• Garnish with remaining sesame seeds.
• Move to a serving plate and consume hot.

Makes 3 Servings.

Enjoy!