Tender Turkey Meatballs and Orzo with Whole-Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Mayo is certainly not a traditional ingredient in meatballs. But it’s not an unusual choice, either, when you consider its parts: egg, oil, and a small amount of vinegar or lemon juice, all whisked or blended together. Because it’s a stable emulsion, mayo serves as an excellent binder for meatballs. It easily slips into the role played by eggs and bread crumbs. With mayo, the path to meatballs is simple: no eggs to crack, no bread to blitz into fine crumbs, no guessing at the amount of crumbs to work in (too much...hockey puck meatballs! Too little...crumbly, fall-apart meatballs!). And a good quality mayo adds a lot of flavor in the process. Easier still, these meatballs are cooked on a sheet pan under the broiler, so they get golden brown without the mess and time required of frying. The recipe below calls for 2 pounds of turkey (enough to serve 6 to 8 people), but if you're cooking for a smaller crowd, the meatball recipe can be easily halved.

Together, the meatballs and orzo are bright, light, and lemony. The orzo is double dressed, first with mayo to add body and light creaminess (and prevent the orzo from sticking and clumping as it rests), and then by a whole-lemon vinaigrette inspired by Alison Roman’s recipe in Bon Appétit. —EmilyC

Directions

1. Turkey Meatballs
2. Heat broiler and place top oven rack below heat source.
3. In a large bowl, combine turkey, mayonnaise, garlic, lemon zest, parsley, Parmesan, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix together with your hands until well combined.
4. Line a large sheet pan with foil and, using your hands, rub olive oil over the entire surface.
5. Shape turkey mixture into small meatballs, about 2 tablespoons each or 1 1/2-inches wide, and place them on the foil-lined sheet pan. It’s fine if they’re close together. Drizzle the meatballs with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Broil meatballs about 8 to 10 minutes, flipping them once, until they’re browned on both sides and cooked through. Remove from oven; cover with foil to keep warm.

1. Orzo with Whole-Lemon Vinaigrette
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add orzo, and cook according to package directions. Drain (do not rinse) and transfer to a large bowl. Immediately add mayonnaise, and stir until evenly incorporated.
3. While orzo is cooking, make the whole-lemon vinaigrette: in a bowl, combine shallots, olives, and chopped lemon. Season with kosher salt and few grinds of black pepper. In a small skillet or saucepan, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Add lemon-olive mixture, and cook, stirring frequently, until ingredients are warmed through and the shallots have softened but not browned, about 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Pour the whole-lemon vinaigrette over the warm orzo and mayonnaise, and toss to combine. Add Parmesan and chopped greens, and toss again. Taste the orzo, and add salt, pepper, and lemon juice to taste.
5. Gently toss in the meatballs, or place them on top of the orzo. Serve warm, with more grated Parmesan if desired.

Recipe by: EmilyC