Ginger Scallion Meatballs with Miso Carrot Dipping Sauce

There's nothing quite like a delicious meatball, and these are packed with bold, gingery flavor. The bright Miso Carrot dipping sauce adds a tangy, probiotic kick inspired by Japanese steakhouse dressings.

This recipe happens to be gluten, dairy, and soy-free. 

Whether you're serving these meatballs as an appetizer or as the main course, they're sure to be a crowd-pleaser. You can make it a kid-friendly meal by serving the meatballs with other dipping options like diced avocado, sugar snap peas, apple slices, radishes, or celery sticks. Serve with cocktail picks, and start dunking!

For heartier appetites, add a side of white basmati rice or cauliflower rice. Give this recipe a try and impress your guests with a unique and flavorful dish that's colorful, gut-health-supportive, anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense, and delicious.

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How to Make These Ginger Scallion Meatballs with Miso Carrot Dipping Sauce

Before you get started on the meatballs, you'll want to prepare the dipping sauce by blending together carrots, miso paste, rice vinegar, and a few other flavorful ingredients. A high-powered blender works best here to ensure a velvety-smooth dipping sauce.

The starring ingredient of the bright orange dipping sauce is chickpea miso paste, a fermented food that adds an umami flavor and a dose of gut-supportive probiotics. Do note that miso is traditionally made with soybeans and/or gluten-containing ingredients like barley, so be sure to choose a soy and gluten-free miso option to keep this one thyroid-friendly.

The miso paste I used in developing this recipe was Miso Master Organic Chickpea Miso. A good place to look for it is in the refrigerated section of your local health food store. It contains organic handmade rice koji, organic whole chickpeas, sun-dried sea salt, Blue Ridge Mountain well water, and koji spores. The flavor is fairly mild with medium saltiness, so it works well in almost any recipe that calls for miso. 

You'll want to serve the Carrot Miso Dipping Sauce with everything, and because this recipe makes a bit more than you'll need, you can! Try it as a salad dressing or find more serving suggestions HERE.

To make the meatballs, you'll start by mixing together an aromatic blend of garlic, ginger, green onions (a.k.a. scallions), fish sauce, and jalapeno. This flavorful base is then combined with pasture-raised ground pork and chicken. Form the mixture into small balls and pop them under the broiler until they're golden brown and cooked through. 

PRO TIP: When forming meatballs, keep your hands wet to prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands.

Once the meatballs are done, serve them with the Carrot Miso Dipping Sauce on the side. You can garnish with a few extra scallions or sesame seeds if you'd like. The tangy, bright flavors of the sauce perfectly complement the ginger and scallion in the meatballs, making for a truly delicious dish. 

Thyroid Healthy Recipe Highlights

• Pasture-raised Chicken is a very good source of selenium, which helps to regulate the production of thyroid hormone, convert T4 to T3, and protect the thyroid from stress. A 3-ounce serving of chicken also provides 84% RDI of the essential amino acid Tyrosine, which the thyroid gland combines with iodine to produce thyroid hormone.
• Pasture-raised Pork: A 3-ounce serving of pork contains 103% DV of tyrosine, 63% DV of selenium, and 17% DV of Zinc—3 key nutrients for thyroid health.
• Cilantro: Studies have shown that cilantro can help accelerate the body’s excretion of mercury and lead. Heavy metal toxicity from mercury has been linked to an increase in thyroid antibodies.
• Carrots: 1 cup of carrots provides 428% DV of Vitamin A, which is a key thyroid-supporting nutrient. 1 cup of carrots also contains 3.6 grams of fiber, which can help relieve constipation. Carrots are low in calories and a good choice for weight loss.
• Ginger aids in relieving both inflammation and sensitivity to cold, sometimes caused by thyroid disease. It also promotes metabolism and digestion and can improve the slow gut motility that often accompanies a missing or underactive thyroid. 
• Miso: Fermented Foods like chickpea miso, pickles, kimchi, olives, and sauerkraut are high in beneficial bacteria that support good gut health.  These probiotic foods have been shown to improve and support digestion, boost immunity, improve blood sugar control, and reduce inflammation. Note: Choose a variety of miso that is gluten and soy-free to keep it thyroid-friendly.

Happy cooking, happy thriving, and enjoy the recipe (below)!

P.S. Need more thyroid-friendly recipe inspiration? I’ve got you covered. My Thyroid-friendly Everyday eCookbook features over 50 quick and easy, thyroid-friendly recipes your whole family will love. To take a peek at what’s inside, CLICK HERE.