Meatball Help!

  •   #1  
    jillybean720's Avatarjillybean720 , 09-17-2006 03:42 PM
    I was going to buy some pre-made turkey meatballs, but then I looked at the amount of fat and sodium and all the crappy ingredients Instead, I bought some lean ground turkey to try to make my own. Now, I don't have any breadcrumbs or anything in my kitchen--is there anything else I can use? Does anyone have a recipe for meatballs without any bread included (I don't have any crackers or anything to crumble up, either)?

    Thanks!
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  •   #2  
    Meg's AvatarMeg , 09-17-2006 03:51 PM
    Do you have any oatmeal? I've see meatloaf recipes that use oatmeal as a binder, so why not for meatballs? I'd use enough oatmeal to hold the turkey together, some Eggbeaters for moisture (and maybe a little skim milk), and lots of onion, garlic, and herbs.

    Good for you for making your own - I'm sure they'll be delicious!
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  •   #3  
    athenac's Avatarathenac , 09-17-2006 03:57 PM
    If you don't have oatmeal, try crackers (saltines or something like that).
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  •   #4  
    jillybean720's Avatarjillybean720 , 09-17-2006 04:34 PM
    ha, the only oatmeal I have is either instant reduced-sugar peaches n cream or strawberries n cream (or bf's French Toast flavored oatmeal ). And nope, no crackers. I try not to eat much in the way of carbs, so no crackers of any kind. I was thinking of grinding up some Kashi cereal (has been in the cabinet for weeks), but then I'd also have to pick out the sliced almonds in that

    I've been looking at recipes all over the internet, and I have found some that don't use any type of breadcrumbs, but they do use chopped veggies (usually peppers and onions), so I wonder if the veggies and the spices are enough to hold the meat together? I may try just a bunch of spices and some egg whites...here's hoping I end up turkey meatballs and not with turkey mush!
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  •   #5  
    Meg's AvatarMeg , 09-17-2006 04:36 PM
    I'll bet the egg whites will be sticky enough to hold it all together. I like to bake my meatballs (350 degrees) because they hold together better, so maybe that would help yours.

    If you end up with a great recipe, be sure to share!
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  •   #6  
    jillybean720's Avatarjillybean720 , 09-17-2006 05:59 PM
    Yupyup, I baked mine, too. I don't have any fresh veggies on hand since I'm a self-proclaimed veggie-phobe, but I did have a jar of dried minced onion, so I used a LOT of that. Since it's dried, I'm hoping it will work just about the same as the bread crumbs. I already mixed everything together (just the ground turkey, 2 egg whites, dried minced onion, garlic powder, and Mrs. Dash) and baked the meatballs (400 degrees for 10 minutes). Right now, while my crockpot is still being washed in the dishwasher (yeah, I'm lazy when it comes to dishes), I put the meatballs all in a giant ziploc bag with a bunch of paper towels to absorb the grease that appeared when they cooked. Then, it's into the crockpot with them--along with some dietetic grape jelly and some chili sauce!

    I'll let you know if they are good turkey meatballs, or if they're more like little turkey gumballs (I have had this problem before--too much egg)
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  •   #7  
    irishredhead's Avataririshredhead , 09-17-2006 07:36 PM
    meatballs
    Hi!! I use oatmeal, works great!!!
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  •   #8  
    kaplods's Avatarkaplods , 09-17-2006 08:04 PM
    I would leave the nuts in and just grind the cereal in a food processor or blender. Instant mashed potato flakes also make a good binder, and so does soft bread crumbs (just take off the crusts, and tear the white part into small pieces and mash it into the meat and egg mixture).
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  •   #9  
    jillybean720's Avatarjillybean720 , 09-17-2006 10:04 PM
    It actually worked just fine without any bread at all. As mentioned in previous posts, I do not have plain oatmeal and am trying to restrict carbs, so no potato flakes or anything, either. I just used the meat, egg whites, dried minced onion, garlic powder, and Mrs. Dash, and it worked just fine.
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  •   #10  
    hefty1's Avatarhefty1 , 09-18-2006 12:00 AM
    corn flakes or bran flakes work also. glen
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  •   #11  
    QuilterInVA's AvatarQuilterInVA , 09-22-2006 11:44 AM
    If you are trying to restrict carbs, you'd be better off getting regular oatmeal, not preflavored or instant.
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  •   #12  
    jillybean720's Avatarjillybean720 , 09-22-2006 11:51 AM
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by QuilterInVA
    If you are trying to restrict carbs, you'd be better off getting regular oatmeal, not preflavored or instant.
    I don't buy any oatmeal at all--if you're really restricting carbs, it's something to avoid! I just happen to have some in my cabinet from "back in the day" Same with the Kashi cereal--I have it there, but I haven't actually eaten any in quite some time.

    However, THANK YOU for at least actually reading the full question. Nothing like specifically saying, for example, that I don't have any crackers--only to get a response that I could use cracker instead of breadcrumbs
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  •   #13  
    my ivy's Avatarmy ivy , 09-22-2006 12:02 PM
    Hey I use complete seasoning and Parmesan cheese minced garlic and onions plus egg sub.

    -Ivy
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  •   #14  
    Tara D's AvatarTara D , 09-22-2006 12:18 PM
    We always used flour when I was a kid...I didn't even know that meatballs could be made with bread crumbs until I was older.
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  •   #15  
    jillybean720's Avatarjillybean720 , 09-22-2006 01:05 PM
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tara D
    We always used flour when I was a kid...I didn't even know that meatballs could be made with bread crumbs until I was older.
    Hmm...I guess pretty much anything to take up some of the moisture and hold it all together. I guess that's what the dried minced onion did for mine (I used a LOT of onion ). I'm glad it worked, though without any bread-type stuff...they were very yummy, and since I made a big crock pot full of them, they lasted me all week!
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