Baked Turkey and Rice Meatballs
Tender oven-baked turkey meatballs with soft rice and finely chopped vegetables. An iron-rich finger food the whole family can share.
Ingredients
Contains optional added salt for older eaters. Skip it for babies under 12 months.
- 453.6 g ground turkey1 lb ground turkey
- 180 ml rice, cooked12.17 tbsp rice, cooked
- 15 ml sesame oil1.01 tbsp sesame oil
- 90 g broccoli, florets3.17 oz broccoli, florets
- 1 medium carrot, peeled
- 30 g spinach1.06 oz spinach
- 2.5 ml garlic powder0.51 tsp garlic powder
- salt (to taste), for over-1s and adults, add at the end
Steps
Prep the Vegetables
- Heat the oven to 350F (175C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly oil it.
- Add the broccoli, carrot, and spinach to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, or chop very finely by hand.
- Heat 1 teaspoon of the sesame oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook the vegetables until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Transfer the softened vegetables to a large bowl and let them cool slightly.
Mix and Shape
- Stir the cooked rice, remaining sesame oil, and garlic powder into the vegetables until well combined.
- If the rice feels too firm, microwave the mixture briefly to soften it before adding the meat.
- Add the ground turkey and mix gently with your hands until just combined, taking care not to overwork it.
- With wet hands or a small scoop, shape the mixture into small balls and place them on the baking sheet.
Bake
- Set a small oven-safe dish of water on the sheet beside the meatballs to keep them moist while baking.
- Bake for 20 minutes, flipping the meatballs halfway through, until cooked through and no longer pink inside.
Nutrition
- Calories
- 35
- Protein
- 5g
- Fat
- 1g
- Carbs
- 2g
Tips by age
Make sure the vegetables are very finely chopped and the meatball is soft. Offer a whole meatball for your baby to gum and squash, or flatten it slightly so it is easy to handle.
Choking safety: A whole round meatball can be a choking risk. Flatten it or break it into soft pieces, and always supervise during eating.
Serve a whole meatball flattened slightly, or quartered into bite-size pieces that are easy to pick up and chew.
Choking safety: Round meatballs can be a choking risk. Quarter or flatten them and supervise closely.
Offer whole or halved meatballs as finger food alongside a little extra rice or soft vegetables for a balanced plate.
Choking safety: Halve or quarter the meatballs for this age and supervise while eating.
Serve whole or halved meatballs that your child can pick up or spear with a fork. Pair with rice and soft veg.
Choking safety: Cut larger meatballs in half so they are easy to bite and chew.
Serve as written, two or three meatballs per child, with rice or a soft side. They are great for dipping into a mild yogurt sauce.
Serve as written with a larger portion of rice and vegetables. For over-1s and adults, add a pinch of salt to taste at the table.
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