Harissa has quickly become one of my favourite ingredients to use over the past few years. It’s super flavourful and works in SO many different applications. And these deliciously easy harissa meatballs are no exception. Made with ground dark turkey meat, it’s moist, flavourful and a quick weeknight dinner to whip up. Don’t skip on the whipped feta, it cools everything down and makes the perfect dip to these fiery harissa turkey meatballs.

harissa meatballs, harissa turkey meatballs

Why You’ll Love These Harissa Meatballs

super quick and easy to make for a weeknight dinner.
great for leftovers and meal prep.
delicious served to guests as an appetizer
packed with flavour
they are the perfect vehicle for dipping into the whipped feta!

Ingredients

To make these easy and flavourful harissa meatballs, here’s what you’ll need.

ground turkey
1 egg
harissa paste
garlic
parsley
sumac
lemon zest
kosher salt

For the whipped feta dip, you only need three ingredients!

feta cheese
ricotta cheese
Greek yogurt

So although this harissa meatball recipe is low on ingredients, it’s packed with flavour, and that really comes down to using harissa paste.

What is Harissa?

Harissa is a blend of hot peppers, oil and various spices. It’s a flavor base for curries and stews, as well as a condiment, in Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, according to Middle Eastern food expert Paula Wolfert. The ingredients in harissa vary by neighbourhood, country, and ethnicity. The basic recipe calls for hot peppers, garlic, salt and lots of olive oil. Can you see why it’s so tasty now?!

Is Harissa Spicy?

It depends on the brand. Some will be mild and some will be spicy, each jar will state if it’s mild or spicy.

Personally, I love spice and have used this one for this recipe and it tastes SO good. I highly recommend it!

When using harissa, feel free to start with a smaller amount and see how it works. Depending on your taste and spice preference, add more.

How to Make Harissa Turkey Meatballs

Making these harissa meatballs couldn’t be easier. From start to finish, they should take just over 30 minutes total, this also includes making the whipped feta!

Preheat the oven to 400℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix together all of the turkey ingredients until just combined, don’t over mix.

Form into small golf-ball sized meatballs and place on the baking sheet.

Transfer to the oven and bake for 14 minutes. Remove the tray and turn the oven to a high broil and return the baking sheet to the oven. Broil on high for eight to ten minutes, until browned and cooked through.

How to make Whipped Feta Dip

The other good news with this recipe is that the whipped feta takes only minutes to make, thanks to the food processor.

Once you’ve made this batch, you’ll definitely have leftovers, which IS NOT a bad thing! It’s so good served with crackers, veggies, pita or bread.

In a food processor, combine all ingredients and turn on high. Process on high until very smooth and creamy, about two minutes. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides as needed.

What to do with Leftover Whipped Feta

serve it with veggies, crackers, on bread, toast, or serve with pita.
jazz it up with a drizzle of olive oil, scallions and honey (see my recipe for that over on Instagram!) and the photo below.
keep leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container for about a week or so (check the expiration date on your products to be sure).

Tips

When it comes to making these harissa meatballs and whipped feta dip, here are a few tips to make things extra easy and delicious

Always use room temperature feta and ricotta cheese: this makes the dip creamier and a better consistency.
Don’t over mix the meatball mixture: mix until everything is just combined to avoid over working the meat, which could make it tougher.
Use a mix of dark and light meat: this will result in more flavour.
Make the whipped feta dip ahead of time: this can save extra time and dishes to clean. Let it sit out and come to room temperature before serving.
Make the meatballs ahead of time: if serving at a party, form them into balls ahead of time and then cook them when you’re ready to eat.
How to serve: I love serving these harissa meatballs with a nice big salad, or extra grilled or baked veggies, such as grilled cabbage.

Substitutions

No turkey: use ground chicken instead, ground lamb would also work.
Less spice: use a mild harissa, such as this one. Or use less of the harissa if you have a spicy one.
No sumac: omit
No dill: use parsley as a garnish
No dairy: omit the whipped feta dip and serve with a plain dairy-free yogurt to cool things down, or a tahini sauce.

More Harissa Recipes

If you’re looking for more ways to enjoy harissa, check these ones out!

More Appetizer Recipes

Looking for more appetizers, check these ones out!

Ready to make this? Let’s get to it!

If you make these harissa meatballs please share with me, by tagging me on Instagram or leave a comment and/or review below. I truly love seeing and hearing form you!

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Harissa Meatballs with Whipped Feta