Keto Harissa Turkey Meatballs and Lemon Cauliflower Rice
Easy Keto dinners don’t have to be boring. This fantastic recipe combines tender turkey meatballs with cauliflower rice for a beautiful and Keto-friendly dinner. We added a perfect amount of harissa paste to the meatballs for some extra spicy flavor, but feel free to adjust the amount according to your taste. You can also substitute ground turkey for chicken or combine the two ingredients. The results will be equally delicious.
Adding one tablespoon of lemon juice to the cauliflower rice will enhance the flavor of this amazing dish, but that’s also completely optional. You can stir in one tablespoon of butter and reserve the lemon juice for serving. The choice is yours!
Finally, add one cup of mozzarella cheese to the skillet for a beautiful cheesy touch and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley. Enjoy!
How to Make It
Step 1
Place the ground turkey in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add in the lemon zest, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, the harissa paste (feel free to use less if you don’t like as much spicy heat), 1 tablespoon of parsley, and ¼ tsp of sumac (optional). Mix the meat mixture with a paddle attachment for about one minute on medium speed. The texture of the meat should turn into a bouncy texture. This is how we get away without using breadcrumbs or eggs in this recipe. Set the mixture aside.
Step 2
Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add in the avocado oil and swirl the pan to coat it well. Use a 1 oz cookie scoop to portion the meatballs into the pan. You can roll them in your hands to make perfectly round meatballs, but it is not necessary. Simply scoop the meatballs into the pan, flat side down. Sear the first side for 1-2 minutes until nicely browned.
Step 3
Flip the meatballs and repeat on the other side. Remove the meatballs to a plate. There should be some residual oil in the pan.
Step 4
Add in the cauliflower rice, lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt, and ¼ cup of water. Place the meatballs on top of the cauliflower rice. Place a lid on top of the pan. If you do not have a lid, you can top the pan with a sheet tray. Cook until the meatballs are fully cooked through, about 3-4 minutes, over low heat.
Step 5
During the last minute of cooking, add one cup of mozzarella cheese. Cover with the lid so the cheese will melt. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley. Serve immediately!
Ingredients
- Ground turkey, lean, 7% fat (93% lean meat)
1 lb
- Lemon Peel Or Zest Raw (Copy)
0.5 tsp
- Coarse Kosher Salt
1 tsp
- Harissa Paste
1.5 tbsp
- Parsley
1 tbsp
- Ground Sumac Spice
0.25 tsp
- Avocado oil
2 tbsp
- Cauliflower rice
18 oz
- Lemon juice
1 tbsp
- Coarse Kosher Salt
1 tsp
- Parsley
1 tbsp
- Water
0.25 cup
- Mozzarella Cheese, Shredded
1 cup