Mexican Turkey Meatballs

with Pepitas, Rice & Spicy Cilantro Sauce

45 MIN

2 Servings

Wellness at Blue Apron

Find recipes that suit your lifestyle with our new nutritionist-approved dietary tags.

Vegetarian

These recipes don’t contain meat, poultry, fish, or seafood.* They’re made with fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. *Select artisanal cheeses may contain animal-derived rennet.

Carb Conscious

This applies to meal kit recipes with 48g or less of net carbs (total carbs minus dietary fiber) per serving. Carb Conscious Add-ons contain 20g or less net carbs.

Mediterranean Diet

Our Mediterranean recipes are inspired by the Mediterranean Diet, a healthy eating plan recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans published jointly every five years by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). This eating plan highlights the flavors and cooking styles from countries along the Mediterranean Sea, including those in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. These recipes showcase a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, as well as lean proteins and moderate portions of dairy.

600 Calories or Less

These meals contain 600 calories or less per serving. The US Food & Drug Administration uses 2000 calorie daily intake for general advice. The 600 calorie cap equates to 30% of the total 2000 calories per day based on 3 meals per day with 200 calories remaining for snack or beverage.

Wellness Grain

These recipes feature grains such as barley, quinoa, farro, orzo, couscous and more, handpicked by our Culinary team in collaboration with our Registered Dietitian.

Pescatarian

These recipes feature a wide array of nutritious seafood options like salmon, cod, tilapia, crab, and shrimp. While these dishes never contain meat, pork or poultry, they may contain animal derived ingredients such as milk, butter, cheese and/or honey.

30g Of Protein

These meals contain 30g or more of protein per serving, and are ideal for those looking to focus their meals around protein intake.

Keto Friendly

These meals have approximately 10% of calories from carbohydrates, 20% from protein, and 70% from dietary fats (per serving).

45g Of Protein

These meal kit recipes contain 45g or more of protein per serving, and are ideal for those looking to focus their meals around protein intake.

Nutritionist's Pick

These meals are selected by Blue Apron’s Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. They are centered around nutritious and wholesome ingredients, featuring whole grains and fresh produce which provide fiber. They also contain moderate portions of dairy and lean protein while being mindful of saturated fat.

Wheat Free

These meals are prepared with ingredients that do not contain wheat. They feature grains such as barley and rice as well as proteins and vegetables.

Reduced Sodium

These Prepared and Ready dishes contain at least 25% less sodium per 100 grams (or 3.5 oz) than our average Prepared and Ready Meal as of October 1, 2024. Sodium content has been reduced from 330 mg per 100 grams to 250 mg per 100 grams. These dishes focus on ingredients with strong flavor and moderate salt.

Vegan

To view a recipe's full nutrition information, head to your Upcoming page at blueapron.com, click on a specific recipe, then head to the Nutrition tab and select 'View Full Nutrition.' Nutrition Facts Panels are available up to 1.5 weeks in advance

From the Test Kitchen

For this vibrant dish, you'll season turkey meatballs with a classic blend of Mexican spices, then toss them into a saucy mix of fresh tomatoes, pepper, and onion to serve over a bed of hearty brown rice. It's all topped with crunchy toasted pepitas and a drizzle of herbaceous cilantro sauce spiced with pickled jalapeño.
CLICK FOR RECIPE CARD

See Plans

Nutrition

PER SERVING
Calories

720 Cals (est.)

View Full Nutrition

fresh

ingredients

10 oz Ground Turkey
½ cup Brown Rice
4 oz Grape Tomatoes
1 Red Onion
2 cloves Garlic
2 Tbsps Grated Cotija Cheese
¼ cup Cilantro Sauce
¼ cup Panko Breadcrumbs
1 oz Sliced Pickled Jalapeño Pepper
2 Tbsps Raw Pepitas
1 Tbsp Mexican Spice Blend (Ancho Chile Powder, Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder, Ground Cumin & Dried Mexican Oregano)
1 Red, Yellow, Or Orange Bell Pepper

time-saving

tips & techniques

step-by-step

instructions

Cook Along

1 Prepare the ingredients & make the sauce

Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Halve, peel, and medium dice the onion. Cut off and discard the stem of the bell pepper. Halve lengthwise; remove the ribs and seeds, then medium dice. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Halve the tomatoes. Roughly chop the jalapeño pepper. Thoroughly wash your hands immediately after handling. In a bowl, combine the cilantro sauce and as much of the chopped jalapeño pepper as you'd like, depending on how spicy you'd like the dish to be.

2 Cook the rice

Add the rice to the pot of boiling water and cook, uncovered, 17 to 19 minutes, or until tender. Turn off the heat. Drain thoroughly.

3 Toast the pepitas

Meanwhile, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the pepitas; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 3 minutes, or until toasted (be careful, as the pepitas may pop as they toast). Transfer to a plate and immediately season with salt. Wipe out the pan.

4 Form & cook the meatballs

Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the turkey, breadcrumbs, and spice blend. Season with salt and pepper. Gently mix to combine. Shape the mixture into 10 tightly packed meatballs. In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium until hot. Add the meatballs in an even layer. Loosely cover the pan with foil and cook, without stirring, 6 to 7 minutes, or until browned. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes, or until browned on all sides and cooked through.* Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a plate. Cover with the foil to keep warm.

*An instant-read thermometer should register 165°F.

5 Finish & serve your dish

In the pan of reserved fond, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the diced onion, diced bell pepper, and chopped garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened. Add the halved tomatoes and 1/2 cup of water (carefully, as the liquid may splatter); season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally and pressing the tomatoes with the back of a spoon, 3 to 4 minutes, or until the tomatoes are broken down and the sauce is slightly thickened. Add the cooked meatballs. Cook, constantly spooning the sauce over the meatballs, 1 to 2 minutes, or until coated. Serve the cooked rice topped with the finished meatballs, vegetables, and sauce. Garnish with the spicy cilantro sauce, cheese, and toasted pepitas. Enjoy!