If you’re looking to add more veggies to your meal, you have got to try these Turkey Bites. The meat mixture includes 4 hidden vegetables (carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, spinach or kale) and a fruit (the red bell pepper). It’s a nutritious meal the entire family can enjoy. The meat mixture may be formed into bite-size pieces or into small patties. This may also be served as part of a sandwich/ hamburger or in deconstructed form.
The vegetables are first pulsed in a food processor and then they are sautéed before being added to the seasoned ground turkey.
Veggie-Loaded Turkey Bites/Patties
These Turkey Bites contain 4 hidden vegetables (carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, spinach or kale) and a fruit (the red bell pepper). They’re a nutritious meal the entire family can enjoy.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 50 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup roughly diced carrots (washed, peeled, ends cut off)
- 1/2 cup diced red bell peppers (washed, white membrane and seeds removed)
- 1/2 cup diced broccoli (washed)
- 1 cup quartered Cremini or Baby Bella mushrooms (cleaned)
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 cup small diced onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 cups cubed bread, dice about 2 slices of bread into cubes and measure 2 cups (I used Silver Hills Sprouted Soft Wheat bread)
- 1/4 cup milk (or dairy-free milk)
- 1 pound thawed ground turkey, 93% Lean
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup cilantro or parsley, finely diced. (washed and patted dry).
- 1 cup spinach or 1 kale, finely diced (washed and patted dry)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F
- Wash and prep the veggies.
- Add the carrots, red bell peppers, and broccoli to a food processor. Blend until they’re mostly broken down into small pieces. Add the mushrooms and pulse a few times until it is broken down into small pieces (making sure not to pulse the mushrooms too much or else they can become wet or soggy). Set it aside.
- To a skillet, add the oil and allow it to get hot, over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for about 2-3 minutes or until it’s soft and translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for a couple of seconds. Add the veggies from the food processor and add 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Sauté until the veggies have given off their liquid and the liquid has evaporated from the bottom of the skillet (for about 6 minutes)-while mixing a few times.
- Turn the heat off and set it aside while we prepare the rest of the ingredients
- Add 2 cups of cubed bread to a bowl and add the milk. Break the bread up with your fingers and allow it to soak in the milk for 5 minutes.
- To the soaked bread, add the ground turkey, 1 teaspoon salt, ground black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, cilantro, spinach, and the cooled sautéed veggies.
- Disclaimer for handling raw turkey : 📝please note: when handling raw poultry , make sure to wash your hands well, clean any objects (like knives, cutting boards, etc.) or surfaces that the turkey piece(s) has touched to prevent cross contamination.
- May form the meat mixture into small patties or small bites.
- For bites: scoop 2 tablespoons of the mixture into the palm of your hand. Form them into round bites and transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast for 10 minutes on one side then flip them over and roast for an additional 12-15 minutes or until the meat has cooked through.
- For small patties: Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to scoop some of the mixture into the palm of your hand. Form round disc-like patties and transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast for 15 minutes on one side then flip them over and roast for an additional 12-15 minutes or until the meat has cooked through.
- Allow to rest for 10 minutes.
Serve with ranch dressing, ketchup or your favorite dip/side .
Notes
Keep the leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
