Author Notes
Sometimes I wonder if I was adopted (perhaps just wishful thinking...), because, though I have no (known) Greek blood I am drawn to cooking with Mediterranean flavors. These chicken meatballs are light, delicious, and fragrant with oregano, garlic, and lemon, and softly ooze melted feta when they are cut open. Their light green color (courtesy of spinach) is also striking. Served atop a nutty whole wheat pasta (I prefer orzo, but tonight all I had was fusilli and it turned out great), this is a great, quick weeknight meal. —chilmarkgal
Ingredients
- For the meatballs
-
1 pound
ground chicken (I prefer white meat)
-
5 ounces
fresh spinach
-
3 tablespoons
extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for frying (if using dark meat chicken reduce to 1 T)
-
2
cloves garlic
-
1/4 teaspoon
chili flakes
-
juice of 1/2 lemon
-
1/2 teaspoon
dried oregano
-
3 ounces
crumbled feta cheese
- For the pasta
-
1 pound
pasta (I prefer whole wheat orzo)
-
1/2 teaspoon
chili flakes
-
3
cloves garlic, crushed
-
2 tablespoons
extra virgin olive oil
-
2
large strips lemon zest
-
4 ounces
crumbled feta cheese
Directions
-
Bring a pot of water to a boil, salt and cook pasta until al dente. While waiting for water to boil/pasta to cook, follow the steps below.
-
Process spinach, olive oil, and garlic in food processor or blender until finely chopped. Transfer spinach paste into bowl, add the chili flake, lemon juice, oregano, and feta, mix. Now add the chicken and mix until incorporated (by combining all the ingredients but the chicken in the previous step you prevent the meat from getting overworked).
-
Shape meat mixture into small meatballs, about 1 heaping tablespoon per meatball. Lightly coat hot skillet with olive oil and brown meatballs over medium high heat on all sides and cook completely, this should only take about 5 minutes (maybe less, depending on the size).
-
Remove meatballs from skillet, in the same skillet add the chili flakes, garlic, olive oil, and lemon zest (this is for the pasta), infuse over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until the garlic is golden brown.
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Toss drained pasta with the infused oil and remaining feta cheese, add meatballs and serve.
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