Last weekend, a friend was incredibly nice and invited N and I out to the cabin in Big Bear she and her boyfriend were staying at. N and I went to Big Bear once last year, but we were going out there because I was cycling in Tour de Big Bear. In between my practice ride with friends and the actual event ride, we didn’t get to spend that much time together. Or really in Big Bear. This was a perfect opportunity to have a weekend in Big Bear together.
My friend and her boyfriend had been out there a few days before N and I were planning on driving in. She called me night before N and I were leaving and said, “Please bring a pasta and some kind of sauce to go with the turkey we’ve got out here. We’ll use it for a dinner.”
A recipe I had been meaning to try instantly popped into my head. “Done! We’ll see you there!”
The weekend was great. Relaxing, quiet, and slow. We made no plans to rush anywhere, my friend and I brought crafting stuff while the boys read or drew. My friend and her boyfriend would do something, N and I went out and explored. When our night came to cook, they asked, “So what kind of pasta did you bring? Did you bring a red or white sauce?”
“Neither,” I said. “We’re going to have Thai meatballs with your turkey, soba and a miso sauce to pour over it.”
Their eyes got big. It made me so happy.
After all of the cooking, stovetop issues, and elevation adjustments, the four of us sat down for dinner. One of the quietest dinners I’ve ever sat at. Seconds (and thirds!) were had. Whatever was left, my friends decided to eat for breakfast! This is why I love food. It’s not just how good it tastes or how good is it for you, but it’s about sharing and making new memories.
Ingredients
- 2 tsp ginger, peeled
- 2 tsp garlic, rough chopped
- 2 small jalapenos, seeded
- 2 Thai chilies, seeded
- 2 small carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp coarse salt
- 1½ lbs ground turkey
- 2 tbsp miso
- 3-4 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp cold water
- juice form 1/2 a lemon
- sprinkling of sesame seeds (to your taste)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with 2 layers of parchment paper.
Place garlic, ginger, peppers, carrots, fish sauce, and salt into a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
Combine finely chopped ingredients and ground turkey into a separate bowl and mix together.
Form golfball-sized meatballs and place on the baking sheet. Bake 25 minutes, or until cooked through.
To make sauce, combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until miso is dissolved. Adjust seasonings to your taste.
Serve on cooked soba, rice, or even over greens. Pour sauce over meatballs after serving.
Notes
Adapted from Foodess