SEATTLE — Quick, simple meals can make your weeknights less stressful. The Safeway app also helps you choose foods based on weekly deals to keep your costs down.
Right now, ground turkey and apples are on sale, so Safeway’s chef ambassador Joel Gamoran has a cost-efficient one-pot recipe, orzotto (risotto using orzo) with turkey meatballs. You’ll mix and sear the meatballs, add orzo ingredients and cook for 10 to 15 minutes.
Gamoran says while making the meatballs, you don’t have to worry about their appearance. Focus on ease and taste.
“We see on social media,” Gamoran said. “We see in cookbooks. Everything looks perfect. It’s a weeknight meal, people.”
Using fewer dishes when you’re preparing dinner makes cleanup a breeze. Cooking everything together can also help make the dish more flavorful.
“One-potters, you don’t realize how much it gives to each other,” he said. “The turkey is giving to the orzo, and the orzo is giving to the turkey.”
Gamoran also suggests worrying more about the prep time of a recipe than the cooking time. Recipes in a slow cooker, for instance, usually have minimal prep time but a longer cooking time. You can do other tasks while the meal is cooking.
“It’s really not about cooking time,” he said. “Cooking time is how long something takes. It’s about prep time.”
Consider doubling the orzotto with turkey meatballs recipe and cooking in batches to ensure you have a meal for the next day too.
“It will make weekdays so much easier,” Gamoran said.
The Safeway for U app offers more recipes and savings on your groceries. Download it to prepare for your meals before you get to the store.
Orzotto with Turkey Meatballs
Servings: 2-4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 1 pound ground turkey
- ½ cup grated fresh apple
- ¼ cup finely diced onion
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided, plus more for garnish
- 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh basil, loosely packed, plus more for garnish
- 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon, divided
- 2 tsp kosher salt, divided
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock, plus more as needed
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 cups fresh spinach, lightly chopped
- 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
Instructions:
1. Mix the Meatballs:
Crack the egg into a large bowl and lightly whisk. Add ground turkey, 1/2 cup Parmesan, basil, panko, lemon zest, and a teaspoon of salt to the bowl. Use your hands to thoroughly combine. Roll the turkey mixture into about 10 meatballs, each a little larger than a golf ball. The mixture will be sticky and wet, wet your fingers between meatballs to prevent sticking.
2. Sear the Meatballs
Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet or pan over medium-high heat, then add a tablespoon of oil and swirl to coat the pan. Sear the meatballs for about 2 minutes per side on two sides.
3. Add the Orzotto Ingredients:
Move the meatballs near the outer edges of the pan to make an opening in the center. Add the chicken stock, orzo, garlic, lemon juice, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt to the center of the pan and stir to combine. Spread the orzo out evenly so that it’s covered in liquid.
4. Cook:
Raise the heat and bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and stir often until all liquid is absorbed and orzo is tender, 10 to 15 minutes, adding the spinach, parmesan, and butter for the last minute of cooking. The orzo should be the consistency of risotto. If it’s too thick, add a little more chicken stock.
5. Serve:
Garnish with fresh basil and serve with additional parmesan.
Sponsored by Safeway
Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest at 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.