WILD TURKEY MEATBALLS

If you throw away the legs and thighs, you might want to reconsider — and here’s a perfect use for the dark meat.

  • 1 1/2 cup ground wild turkey
  • 1 cup finely crumbled cornbread
  • 1/4 cup chopped, toasted hazelnuts or pecans
  • 1 large celery rib, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion (cook it a bit in a microwave to soften)
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1/2 cup chicken (or turkey) broth
  • 1 egg, beaten

Place all ingredients except broth and egg in a mixing bowl. Add broth and egg, being careful to mix well. Preheat oven to 375 degrees while you form meatballs.  Shape into 1-inch diameter balls and place on a 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan which has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until meatballs are browned and done in the center. Meanwhile, place sauce ingredients in a large skillet.

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In company with his late wife, Ann, Jim Casada wrote a number of cookbooks focusing on game or foods from the wild. One of those, The Complete Venison Cookbook, is available from him or the Sporting Classics Store. Jim’s next book, Fishing for Chickens: A Smokies Food Memoir, is due out from the University of Georgia Press in mid-2022. He is currently taking advance reservations for copies. To reserve a copy or learn more about his many other books, include his recent multi-award winning A Smoky Mountain Boyhood: Memories, Musings, and More, visit his website at www.jimcasadaoutdoors.com or e-mail him at jimcasada@comporium.net.

 

venison recipesHundreds of kitchen-tested recipes make this cookbook your answer to a table of hungry hunters or out-of-town guests! Even the choosiest of eaters will enjoy the savory variety of recipes from crockpot cookery to venison on the grill.

Deer hunters and popular culinary creators Jim and Ann Casada have personally tested these recipes in their own home, assuring you of quality, delicious venison dishes. From traditional favorites to more exotic recipes, you’ll enjoy every venison dish imaginable, including: Stir fry, French dip, Fajitas, Kabobs, Piccata, Sloppy Joes, Lasagna, Ribs, Meatballs, Jerky and hundreds more! Buy Now