Chicken Meatballs & Spinach Pesto Linguine

May 22, 2011 by lovelypantry

 

I love a good meatball. I found a recipe by Sunny Anderson (Cooking for Real) and gave it a try. WIN!

Ingredients:

1 lb Lean ground chicken

3 Cloves garlic, minced

1 Egg, whisked

3 Tblsp unseasoned whole-wheat breadcrumbs

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 Tsp Hungarian or Hot Paprika

1 Tsp Onion Powder

1 Tsp Chopped fresh oregano leaves, about 1 small sprig

1 Tblsp chopped fresh Thyme leaves, about 5 sprigs

1 Tsp Brown Sugar

1 Lemon, zested

1 Tblsp Unsalted Butter

1 Tblsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Kosher Salt & Ground Black Pepper (to taste)

 

Directions:

In a large bowl, gently mix the chicken, garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, onion powder, oregano, thyme, brown sugar, lemon zest, 2 pinches of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Form into mini-meatballs, slightly smaller that a golf ball. It should make 28-30 meatballs. Place them on a sheet of parchment paper.

Warm the butter and oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Transfer the meatballs to the pan and do not disturb for 3 minutes in order to brown well. Turn, cooking another 3 minutes without disturbing. Keep cooking until browned and cooked on all sides, but still juicy and plump with a spring to the touch. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb some of the oil. Serve atop Spinach Pesto Linguine, if desired.