For the most part, Americans have grown to know the meatball as an Italian dish, but meatballs are present in most cultures, infusing their own spices and flavors into these little savory spheres. A couple years ago my mom came across this recipe in The Oregonian’s FoodDay. These moist, tender meatballs boast a great deal of Asian-influenced flavor, perfect for a simple dinner with rice or as a cocktail party appetizer. Mr. Yoshida’s Original Gourmet Sweet & Savory Marinade and Cooking Sauce is a key ingredient and can be found at Costco or Sam’s Club. If you cannot find this sauce, a sweet teriyaki marinade and cooking sauce should suffice. The original recipe suggested wrapping the meatballs in a leaf of lettuce and serving with a dipping sauce, but I thought these meatballs were too tasty to be tainted by any sauce. I’ve included the recipe for the sauce though, so that you can be the judge.

Asian Meatballs

These meatballs are best served on Jasmine rice or simply with a toothpick at a cocktail party. They can also be served wrapped in a leaf of lettuce with the sauce recipe.

• 2 1/2 pounds ground turkey
• 1 pound ground pork
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 bunch green onions, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 3/4 cup Mr. Yoshida’s Original Gourmet Sweet & Savory Marinade and Cooking Sauce

Mix all ingredients together and roll into walnut sized balls. Place on a foil lined baking sheet and bake at 400˚ for 15 minutes or until done. Remove from foil and transfer to serving dish.

Asian Meatball Dipping Sauce

This sauce can be served on the side at a cocktail party for your guests’ dipping pleasure.

• 4 tablespoons Mr. Yoshida’s Original Gourmet Sweet & Savory Marinade and Cooking Sauce
• 4 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil

Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl and transfer to serving dish.