Peanut Chicken Meatballs

I always find that when I take time to meal plan, I end up with a different theme each night of the week.   What can I say, I love a good theme!   One of my favorite things to make is dim sum.  I just love variety and having a little bite of everything.

These Peanut-y Chicken Meatballs make the perfect bite.  They're tender, sweet and savory at the same time, with a rich sauce and a slight crunch from the sesame seeds.  

When it comes to Asian food, there are so many great prepared foods to compliment a little bite like these meatballs.  Enter: my new favorite salad.  Have you tried the Asian Chopped Salad from Harris Teeter?  It is SO good.  I just love a cabbage salad, and especially because this one is very similar to my favorite Indochine salad.

Another pantry staple in my house is Trader Joe's Chicken Shu Mai.  They also come in a pork variety and both are delicious.  The serving size is pretty generous too, and the sauce that comes in the box is delicious.

This meal couldn't be simpler, or more fun, to put together.  What are some of your prepared pantry staples?

Ingredients:

* sesame seeds, for garnish 

Meatballs:

*1 lb. ground chicken 

* 1/2 c. panko

* 1/2 tsp. grated ginger, or ginger paste

* 1/2 tsp. dijon mustard

* 1 egg

* 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

* 1/4 tsp. onion powder

Sauce:

* 1/4 c. hoisin sauce

* 1/4 c. creamy peanut butter (I used reduced fat)

*1 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce

* 1/2 tsp. grated ginger, or ginger paste

*1 tbsp. rice vinegar

* 3 tbsp. water

Preheat oven to 425 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  To prepare the meatballs, combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix with your hands until the ingredients are incorporated (the mixture will be wet).  Shape chicken mixture into 1 1/2 inch meatballs and arrange on the baking sheet.  Bake for 15 minutes. 

Meanwhile, prepare the sauce by combining all sauce ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat.  Stir until well combined. 

After 15 minutes, brush some of the sauce over the meatballs and return to the oven for 5 minutes.  Brush with more sauce, garnish with sesame seeds, and serve.