Korean Turkey Meatballs in Sesame-Soy Sauce Recipe
These small meatballs are a lighter version of popular Korean meat snacks, often served with beer or at family gatherings. Ground turkey is delicate, and the salty-sweet sesame sauce makes them disappear from the plate faster than you can count them. You can serve them either as a party appetizer or as a main dish with rice.
These meatballs combine the lightness of turkey with a rich, glossy sesame-soy glaze inspired by Korean flavors. They’re quick to make, easy to share, and work equally well as a casual snack or a full meal with rice.
Chef's tips
For the best texture, don’t skip the step of kneading the meat mixture until it becomes slightly sticky—this helps the meatballs hold together without needing extra breadcrumbs. Fry them over medium heat so they cook through without burning on the outside. Taste the sauce before adding extra salt; different soy sauces vary in saltiness.
How to serve
Serve the meatballs over steamed jasmine or sushi rice, with kimchi or a simple cabbage and carrot slaw on the side. For a party, arrange them on a platter, drizzle with extra sauce from the pan, sprinkle with more sesame seeds and sliced spring onions, and add toothpicks for easy grabbing.
Ingredients
- ground turkey - 400 g
- onion finely chopped - 60 g
- garlic grated or finely chopped - 2 clove
- breadcrumbs - 25 g
- egg - 1 piece
- soy sauce divided between the meat and the sauce - 40 ml
- honey - 20 g
- rice vinegar - 10 ml
- sesame oil - 10 ml
- water for the sauce - 60 ml
- sesame seeds toasted - 7 g
- vegetable oil for frying the meatballs - 20 ml
- black pepper to taste - 1 g
- salt to taste, carefully, as soy sauce is salty - 2 g
Preparation
- In a bowl, mix the ground turkey, onion, half of the garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, 10 ml soy sauce, a pinch of salt, and pepper. Knead with your hand for 2–3 minutes until the mixture becomes sticky and uniform.
- Form small meatballs from the mixture, about the size of a walnut, lightly wetting your hands with water so the meat doesn’t stick. You should get about 20–24 pieces.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Arrange the meatballs with some space between them and fry for 8–10 minutes, turning every few minutes, until evenly browned on all sides and cooked through in the center.
- While the meatballs are frying, prepare the sauce: in a small bowl, mix the remaining soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, water, the rest of the garlic, and sesame oil until the honey dissolves.
- When the meatballs are done, pour off any excess fat from the pan, leaving only a thin layer.
- Pour the prepared sauce into the pan with the meatballs. Cook over medium heat for 4–5 minutes, gently shaking the pan or turning the meatballs until the sauce thickens and coats the meat in a glossy layer.
- Sprinkle the meatballs with toasted sesame seeds and toss so the seeds stick well to the sauce. Serve immediately, preferably warm.
Storage
No storage information available for this dish.
I like to make a double batch and freeze half—having a bag of these ready to reheat makes weeknight dinners and last-minute gatherings much easier. They’re also great tucked into lettuce leaves with a bit of rice and extra chili for a light, handheld meal.
