Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 lb. ground turkey (preferably 93% lean)
1 c. panko bread crumbs
1 large egg
3 tbsp. finely chopped fresh mint leaves, plus more for serving
1 tbsp. sweet paprika
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped, divided
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 1/4 c. orzo
3 c. low-sodium chicken broth
3 c. packed baby spinach (about 3 oz.)
1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest, plus more for serving
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 c. crumbled feta, divided
Preparation
Step 1Preheat oven to 400º. Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil and drizzle with oil. In a medium bowl, combine turkey, panko, egg, mint, paprika, one-third of garlic, 1 tablespoon oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.Step 2Using a scoop or spoon, scoop 2 tablespoons turkey mixture and roll into 18 (1 1/2") balls. Arrange on prepared sheet.Step 3Bake meatballs, shaking sheet halfway through, until cooked through and golden brown, about 15 minutes. Step 4Meanwhile, in a large straight-sided skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add remaining two-thirds of garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add orzo and cook, stirring constantly, until orzo is toasty-smelling, about 2 minutes more. Step 5Pour broth into skillet, add 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to simmer, uncovered, stirring frequently and scraping bottom of pan to ensure orzo doesn’t stick, until orzo is tender and broth is mostly absorbed, 10 to 12 minutes.Step 6Stir in spinach, lemon zest, lemon juice, and 1/2 cup feta until combined and spinach is just wilted, about 2 minutes; season with salt and pepper.Step 7Spoon orzo mixture into bowls. Top with meatballs. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup feta, drizzle with oil, and top with more mint and lemon zest.
While the orzo cooks on the stovetop, bake the meatballs in the oven—everything will be complete at just about the same time and ready to hit the table. Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
