AIP Teriyaki Meatballs

Who doesn’t love a good meatball?! What better way to get a punch of flavors packed in to one wholesome bite. I love to throw together a batch of meatballs when I am returning from the store and starting to prep my veggies, its a great way to clean out the food processor that I’ve surely used. I made them a few weeks ago and while they were good, they were not GREAT, but man did they have potential.

The first thing that had to change was the meat, I had used ground chicken, but it was ashy and flavorless, either ground pork or minced chicken thigh would be perfect. Next was it was really missing the wow factor that a good sauce brings to the party. So I set out to do better and this time I’ve knocked it out of the park!

Method

For the Meatballs

1 lb ground pork

1 medium shallot minced

4 cloves garlic, minced, reserve 1 t

1 thumb of ginger, minced, reserve 1t

1 t lemongrass minced (microplane is best)

1 t sea salt

1 T tapioca starch

In a mixing bowl combine all of the meatball ingredients, form in to 1” balls and place on parchment lined baking sheet in to 350 f oven for 15-20 minutes. Throw on some pineapple slices if it suits your fancy, you will not be sorry you did. Meanwhile assemble the sauce.

For the Sauce

1 T Oil of choice

1/2 cup finely diced fresh pineapple

Garlic and Ginger reserved from above

1/4 cup coconut aminos

2 T coconut vinegar or ume plum vinegar

1 t blackstrap molasses

1 t Tapioca Starch

Heat the oil in a medium skillet, once it is hot, add pineapple, garlic and ginger. Cook over medium heat until wilted and aromatic. Combine coconut aminos, vinegar, molasses and tapioca starch before combining. Lower heat and cook until it is thick and silky. Brush some of the finished sauce over the meatballs in the last few minutes of cooking for extra mmmm.

Serve over wilted cabbage, steamed spaghetti squash, cauliflower rice or white rice if you please. I hate spaghetti squash and this punchy sauce makes me forget that its even on my plate! It would definitely be delicious over chicken as well.