My Version of Rachael Ray's Chinese Spaghetti and Meatballs

Name: My Version of Rachael Ray's Chinese Spaghetti and Meatballs
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 6 serving(s)
Ingredients: salt; 1 lb whole wheat spaghetti or 1 lb whole grain spaghetti; 1 lb ground turkey; 1 egg; 3 slices whole grain bread; black pepper; 1 garlic clove, finely minced; 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder; 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped; 9 scallions, 3 finely chopped, 6 cut into 2-inch lengths; 2 tablespoons tamari dark soy sauce, divided; 1/3 cup tamari dark soy sauce, divided; cooking spray; 2 cups snow pea pods, thinly sliced on an angle; 1 red bell pepper, very thinly sliced; 2 inches gingerroot, grated; 4 garlic cloves, grated; 1 lb spinach, coarsely chopped; 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil; 3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Submitted by Ms B.

"After seeing this recipe on an episode of 30 Minute Meals, I decided to tweak it a little to suit what I had on hand and what I knew would work in my house. It's a fairly simple (although, I won't claim that it only takes 30 minutes...nothing ever does, does it?) meal that is pretty healthy with the lean protein, the whole grain, and all the veggies. Although as with any Asian inspired meal, the soy sauce does account for a lot of sodium."

Download

photo by Ms B.

Ready In:: 1hr 15mins
Ingredients:: 20
Serves:: 6

ingredients

salt
1 lb whole wheat spaghetti or 1 lb whole grain spaghetti
1 lb ground turkey
1 egg
3 slices whole grain bread
black pepper
1 garlic clove, finely minced
1 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
9 scallions, 3 finely chopped, 6 cut into 2-inch lengths
2 tablespoons tamari dark soy sauce, divided
¹⁄₃ cup tamari dark soy sauce, divided
cooking spray
2 cups snow pea pods, thinly sliced on an angle
1 red bell pepper, very thinly sliced
2 inches gingerroot, grated
4 garlic cloves, grated
1 lb spinach, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Place a pot of water on to boil for spaghetti. When it comes to a boil, salt the water and add pasta to cook to al dente.
Combine ground turkey with egg in a mixing bowl.
Place whole grain bread in food processor and pulse into crumbs. Add crumbs to meat mixture.
Add salt, pepper, garlic, five-spice powder, 3 chopped scallions, cilantro, and 2 tablespoons soy sauce to meat mixture.
Form 1 1/2-inch balls and place on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Roast 15 minutes, turning halfway, if the meatballs are over browning on the bottoms.
When the meatballs are close to done and the pasta is in, spray a large skillet with cooking spray and place over high heat.
Add the snow peas, red pepper, remaining cut scallions, ginger and garlic, stir-fry 2 minutes.
Add spinach and wilt, 1 minute.
Drain the pasta and add to the vegetables.
Add the remaining soy sauce, about 1/3 cup, and the sesame oil.
Toss to combine so pasta can soak up sauce, about 1 minute.
Garnish with sesame seeds and top with lots of meatballs.

Questions & Replies

Got a question? Share it with the community!

Reviews

I too saw this recipe on Rachael Ray and was going to post it because it my family really loved it. I was glad to see it was already posted and reviewed. It was easy, healthy and flavorful. Next time I will cut the five spice powder in half - it was just to strong for our tastes otherwise I would leave it just like it is. Great recipe!

celiavolpe
I too just saw this on 30 Minute Meals and had to try it. I used 2 cups of crushed rice krispies (as she did) instead of the whole grain bread and I skipped the spinach. I served this to my FIL for his birthday dinner and he had 3 helpings! This was my first time using five spice powder and I loved it. I also added a little garlic powder to the meatballs. This is one of those easy and delicious meals that just might become a regular at our table. Thanks for posting!

MamaJ
i have made just the meatballs.<br/>over- all, it is a nice recipe.the meatballs come out tender .<br/>however- the chinese 5 spice..... hmmmmm<br/>once i smelled it i knew i was putting just a 1/4 teaspoon (recipe notes 1 tsp)<br/>i actually thought it came out nice but i think my family will want to order pizza:(

kerenim
I had no problems with this recipe, although I did make some changes for personal taste. I used regular hamburger meat and country sausage mixed together. I added more garlic, water chestnuts and a few drops of Chinese hot sauce I used Panko instead of plain bread crumbs. Sesame oil and the five spice powder is an acquired taste, we loved it!

mikeinnashville
I will no longer EVER make a recipe that calls for sesame oil. I too, like bad kitty threw this away. Inedible. I normally trust Rachel Ray recipes, but this was not good.

Terri7579

see 5 more reviews

Tweaks

Delicious! I did follow a viewers suggestion of using rice krispies instead of bread crumbs, 'cause I thought it exciting and sort of Chinese. Also, I added a healthy splash of hot and sweet chili sauce to the dish after tasting, and it gave it a lot more zing! Love the fusion combo of it all!

rosslare