Pistachio Crusted Meatballs

Guess who’s finally gone back to meal prepping?! (That’d be me.) My apologies for my week-long absence–hospital service in residency always saps all my time and energy, but I finally got to catch somewhat of a break this weekend!

My friend recently joined me on my “let’s use up everything in our pantries/kitchens” crusade so we’ve been getting together once a month or so to make a bunch of food!

One such creation includes free samples of pistachios that I got from Wonderful Pistachios. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Wonderful Pistachios and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

This was one of our creations!

If you try to translate “pistachios” directly from Chinese characters (开心果), it literally translates to “happy fruit,” which I’ve always gotten a kick out of. :P They’re known as the “happy nut” because you don’t have to snackrifice (heh heh heh) and they smile back at ya!

(I’ve only ever been sad about them when I had a bag of these back when I broke my hand because I couldn’t open the bag…but yay for them offering a shelled version as well!)

Pistachios are one of my favorite nuts out there–they’re the highest protein + fiber and lowest calorie and fat snack nuts, and they taste so good! Maintaining a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol can help to reduce the risk of heart disease. The fact that you gotta work to get to the pistachios and the visual cue you get from the empty shells is like built-in portion control!

Pistachio Crusted Meatballs

Pistachio Crusted Meatballs

From fairyburger at https://www.fairyburger.com/pistachio-crusted-meatballs/

https://www.fairyburger.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/pistachiocrustedmeatballs.jpg

Prep: 15-20m

Cook: 40m

Yield: 28 1.5" meatballs

Total: 0h 55m

Need a tasty + easy idea for meal prepping? Check out this super flavorful + juicy meatball recipe!

You'll Need...

• 2 lb. grass-fed ground beef
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup toasted bread crumbs
• 1 red onion, diced
• 2 bell peppers, diced
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp roasted garlic powder
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• sprinkle of sea salt
• (Pistachio Coating)
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 8oz. bag of Roasted & Salted Wonderful Pistachios, shelled + crushed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Line 2 baking trays with aluminum foil.
3. Dice the onions + bell peppers and mix together with ground beef and eggs. Add spices and mix together.
4. Roll and form into ~1.75-2" balls.
5. Beat 2 eggs into a bowl.
6. Shell + crush pistachios in a food processor and pour onto a plate..
7. Coat each meatball with the beaten egg mixture and roll in the crushed pistachios.
8. Place ~1" apart onto baking trays, cover with aluminum foil, and let bake for 30 minutes.
9. Remove aluminum foil cover and let bake for another 10 minutes.
10. Serve with pasta + pasta sauce!

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The bread I used to make the toasted bread crumbs is from none other thannnn Dave’s Killer Bread (I featured a recipe for Apple Peanut Butter Toast from em’ a couple months back) and the pasta and sauce are from Rao’s–spaghetti pasta + marinara sauce!

• What would you enjoy pistachios with?