Baked Salmon Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Sauce Recipe
These Baked Salmon Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Sauce are a healthy and flavorful dish perfect for a nutritious lunch or dinner. The tender salmon meatballs are seasoned with a blend of spices, baked to perfection, and paired with a smooth, zesty avocado sauce that adds creaminess and a delightful kick from chipotle chili powder. This recipe features wholesome ingredients like whole wheat panko breadcrumbs, fresh cilantro, and lime juice, making it a delicious and guilt-free meal option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 33 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 12 meatballs, serving 4 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound skinless salmon, cut into chunks
- ½ medium onion, grated
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons whole wheat panko breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons minced cilantro
- 1 egg white
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground oregano
Avocado Sauce
- ¾ California avocado, skin and seed removed
- 3 tablespoons fat-free plain Greek yogurt
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ lime, juiced
- 5 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons minced cilantro
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray to prevent the meatballs from sticking during baking.
- Pulse the Salmon: Place the salmon chunks in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the salmon is finely chopped, making sure to scrape down the sides as needed to get an even consistency. Transfer the processed salmon to a large mixing bowl.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: To the large bowl with salmon, add the grated onion, whole wheat panko breadcrumbs, minced cilantro, egg white, minced garlic, salt, ground pepper, paprika, and ground oregano. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Form Meatballs: Using about 2 tablespoons of the salmon mixture for each, roll the mixture between your palms to form evenly sized meatballs. Place the formed meatballs in even spacing on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake Meatballs: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the meatballs for 15 to 18 minutes, or until they are firm to the touch and cooked through.
- Prepare Avocado Sauce: While the meatballs bake, add the avocado, fat-free Greek yogurt, minced garlic, lime juice, water, minced cilantro, chipotle chili powder, salt, and ground pepper to a food processor or blender bowl. Blend until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Serve: Once the meatballs are baked, serve them warm with the creamy avocado sauce on the side or drizzled on top for a delicious and nutritious meal.
Notes
- Use whole wheat panko breadcrumbs for added fiber and texture.
- Adjust chipotle chili powder in the avocado sauce according to your preferred spice level.
- Make sure to not over-process the salmon to maintain a good texture for the meatballs.
- Cooking time may vary slightly depending on your oven; ensure meatballs are cooked through before serving.
- Leftover sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Keywords: salmon meatballs, baked salmon, avocado sauce, healthy fish recipe, low fat meatballs, gluten free salmon recipe, creamy avocado dip
