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Sweet And Spicy Sesame Chicken Meatball Bowls Recipe

Sweet And Spicy Sesame Chicken Meatball Bowls Recipe
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★★★★★

4.8 from 26 reviews

Sweet and Spicy Sesame Chicken Meatball Bowls combine tender, flavorful chicken meatballs with a vibrant sweet and spicy sesame sauce, crisp-tender broccoli, and a bed of coconut rice, brown rice, or quinoa. This dish perfectly balances heat, sweetness, and umami, garnished with fresh herbs and roasted peanuts for added texture and flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

Sweet & Spicy Sauce

  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon red chili paste (such as sambal oelek)
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar or coconut sugar
  • 1 teaspoon arrowroot starch or cornstarch

Chicken Meatballs

  • 1 pound lean ground chicken or ground turkey
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs or gluten-free breadcrumbs
  • 2 green onions, finely diced
  • ½ cup finely diced fresh cilantro
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ tablespoon freshly grated ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil (for cooking)

Broccoli

  • 3 to 4 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

For Serving

  • Cooked coconut rice, brown rice, or quinoa
  • Chopped scallions
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Chopped roasted peanuts

Instructions

  1. Make the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, water, sesame oil, sesame seeds, red chili paste, grated ginger, minced garlic, brown sugar, and arrowroot starch until fully combined. Set this flavorful sauce aside to allow the flavors to meld.
  2. Prepare the Meatballs: In a large mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, finely diced green onions, cilantro, minced garlic, grated ginger, cayenne pepper, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix evenly, then use your hands to form approximately 16 golf ball-sized meatballs.
  3. Cook the Meatballs: Heat 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully add the meatballs, cooking in batches if needed. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, turning occasionally until all sides are browned and the meatballs are completely cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
  4. Sauté the Broccoli: In the same skillet, add another tablespoon of toasted sesame oil. Add the broccoli florets and sauté for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until the broccoli is crisp-tender and lightly charred at the edges.
  5. Combine and Simmer: Return the cooked meatballs to the skillet with the broccoli. Pour the prepared sauce over the meatballs and broccoli, gently stirring to coat everything evenly. Let the mixture simmer over low heat for 2 to 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and cling deliciously to the meatballs.
  6. Serve: Spoon cooked coconut rice, brown rice, or quinoa into serving bowls. Top with a generous portion of the meatballs and broccoli mixture. Garnish with chopped scallions, fresh cilantro, and chopped roasted peanuts for added flavor and texture. Enjoy warm.

Notes

  • You can substitute ground turkey for chicken to vary the flavor.
  • For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and tamari instead of soy sauce.
  • Adjust the amount of red chili paste to control the spiciness of the sauce.
  • Arrowroot starch can be replaced with cornstarch as a thickener.
  • Leftover meatballs and sauce can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
  • Serve with your choice of rice or quinoa for a complete meal.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken meatballs, sesame chicken, spicy chicken, sweet and spicy sauce, broccoli, Asian meatball bowls, healthy chicken recipe

Find it online: https://todayquickmeals.com/sweet-and-spicy-sesame-chicken-meatball-bowls-recipe/