Ahhhh good ol’ comfort food, it’s the best. And just because you watch the carbs doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy warm, hearty, savory meals like this one: Turkey Meatballs with Gravy and Cauliflower Purée (Whole30-Paleo-Keto), classic comfort food with a healthful twist!
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Looks Like Mashed Potatoes….But Isn’t!
So smooth and creamy, this cauliflower purée has the look and feel of mashed potatoes, but it’s straight up steamed cauliflower with a little butter or ghee (clarified butter), sea salt and pepper all whirled together! If you prefer to have mashed potatoes with this meal, click here for my Swedish Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes.
And Those Turkey Meatballs and Gravy?
These tender turkey meatballs are drenched in a rich, thick gravy that is so tasty you won’t believe it’s completely dairy and grain free! And the whole meal is made in under 30 minutes.
Too Good To Be True?
Nope! It’s all true, a comfort food meal that looks, feels, and tastes decadent but is all veggie and protein.This makes for a happy belly and a happy you.
The Recipe: Turkey Meatballs with Gravy and Cauliflower Purée (Whole30-Paleo-Keto)
Tips and what you need: a large pan, preferably cast iron. Sea salt and arrowroot powder to thicken gravy.
Low carb comfort food that is Paleo/Keto and Whole30 compliant. Instead of cornstarch you will be using arrowroot and non dairy yogurt to thicken your gravy.
- 8 cups cauliflower, stem removed and broken into florets
- 2 tablespoons ghee (or butter)
- 20 ounces ground turkey
- 2 eggs
- 1/3-1/2 cup almond meal (start with 1/3 cup and if mixture is too wet add more)
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 3 tablespoons chives, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder (for thickening gravy)
- 4 tablespoons non dairy plain yogurt (I use cashew or coconut yogurt)
- sea salt and pepper, to taste
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For Cauliflower
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Wash cauliflower, cut off stem and break into florets, steam until soft. When cauliflower is soft. Place half the cooked cauliflower into a food processor with 1 tablespoon ghee (or butter) and a couple pinches of sea salt and black pepper, blend until smooth (you can also use a potato masher and do it by hand) Repeat with second batch.
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While cauliflower is steaming, make meatballs
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place ground turkey, egg, and almond meal in a bowl, work with hands until well blended. Add spices, 2 tablespoons chives and two generous pinches sea salt and black pepper, work with hands until mixed well -
Using wet hands form into 1 1/2" meatballs
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In a large pan over medium heat, warm 2 tablespoons olive oil until hot but not smoking. Add the meatballs and cook, turning once, until golden brown but not yet cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes total. Turn off heat (do not clean the pan) Transfer to oven safe baking dish and place in oven for 5 minutes (or until cooked through)
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Place 2 tablespoon swarm water in a small bowl, add 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder and whisk until smooth (this is called a slurry and will thicken your gravy). Set aside.
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Return the pan used for the meatballs to high heat: Whisk in the chicken stock scraping browned bits off bottom of pan, bring broth to a boil. Once you have achieved a boil, turn off heat. Add the slurry, whisking vigorously. Return to low heat, allow 2 to 3 minutes for gravy to thicken (do not allow to boil. When gravy is desired consistency gradually add the non-dairy yogurt, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking between additions until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. When the meatballs are cooked through, remove from oven and place in gravy pan.
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Place pureed cauliflower on plates, top with meatballs and gravy, garnish with remaining chives (If desired, drizzle some melted ghee over potatoes)
MAY I PLEASE ASK A FAVOR?
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I just ate dinner and this is making me wish for another dinner of meatballs! Going to give this recipe a try real soon!
I’ve never actually made cauliflower puree before! But I do love meatballs so… 😀
I can’t believe it!
I made cauliflower puree last night for the first time and it was AMAZING! I had been using a hand masher to make “fauxtatoes”, but the food processor is the way to go! (and way less work)
So much less work! Glad you like it!
I needed another meal plan for my Whole30, and I now have it! Drool!
Yay!
Really enjoyed these! I tweaked the spices to my taste, total
Comfort food!!!!
You are a sweet, sweet woman 🙂
You had me with that gravy, swoon! Such total comfort food, this recipe is so special and delicious!
Thanks Emily!
Completely drool-worthy! Cannot believe those “mashed veggies” are cauliflower. Yum!
Ooo this looks fantastic – so comforting! My girls will definitely love this – anything in a meatball form! Ha!
First I drooled, then I pinned and I’m totally smitten with this recipe! Looks amazing!
This looks absolutely incredible! That cauli puree with that gravy.. I HAVE to make this soon!
Such comfort food!! I love this dinner!! Thanks, Linda — I know I can trust your recipes and look forward to making such a yummy grain-free meal.
I’m drooling over this, Linda! It looks so delicious, and absolutely love cauliflower puree.
Thanks Vanessa!
Oh, those meatballs look gorgeous! I want to dig in to them right now…
There’s just something so comforting about meatballs when the weather is chilly, and these look like perfection!
Ummm yum! I love a good meal covered in gravy! Thanks for a delicious recipe, Linda.
You are welcome tara!
I love how clean this is! Can’t wait to try this for dinner!
WOW! That looks so good. What a perfect comfort food!
Thanks ChihYu!
That looks so amazing, my boys love meatballs and this is a great way to sneak in some veggies
My daughter just loves meatballs in any state. I have to try and make this one as well. Thanks for sharing
This looks like such a good recipe! I will have to make these soon!
Mmmm. This looks so good! I may have to put in on our menu next week.
Looks healthy, delicious, and mouthwatering! My children are gravy fanatics. I am sure this is one dish we will all love. Great recipe!
I am so excited to make these turkey meatballs with cauliflower puree… such warming comfort food!
Wow, the gravy and the whole dish looks so hearty and tasty!!
Can these meatballs be frozen? If so, should they be cooked and then frozen or frozen prior to cooking?
I have not frozen them but assume it would work well. I would also assume freezing them raw, thawing and then cooking would be better than cooking them twice:)
Absolutely love your creative idea with turkey meatballs with gravy and cauliflower Purée! As you know, I made it a short while ago, and it was lovely! Thx for sharing, Linda!
This was so good! I couldn’t find unsweetened dairy-free yogurt, so I improvised with 2-3Tb of original NutPods and it was perfect. The turkey mix was a little wet, so I added a pinch more almond flour and scooped them into the skillet with a cookie scooper. Perfection.
Well the cookie scooper is a great idea! Thanks so much for letting me know you enjoyed it Jen!
This is one of those recipes that I’m so very thankful that it was shared. This dish was enjoyed by everyone in my family – and believe me, they’re picky. We will definitely be keeping this dish in rotation. The only thing is… I spent almost 2 hours cooking instead of the 30 minutes from start to finish. Most of it was from prepping. But it was well worth it.
Hmmmmm ok! Let’s break this down. I mean, I know I am fast (I have some awesome knife skills lol) but even if you’re slow this one should at the very most take 45 minutes. So let me pick your brain, what in the prepping took so long? Cutting up cauliflower florets should take a minute or two, tops. And the meatball prep happens while the cauliflower is steaming, so no additional time there, and the herbs/spices are all dry so no prep there…I really need to know details so I can help! I want to help. No meatball meal should take two hours…also I am going to make this again next week and time it to the minute in each phase of the process, just to make sure I am on point. I am super glad you liked it. That, at least is a big relief lol
This is a recipe I have made several times and I double it each time! It’s delicious and the meatballs have a tasty and unique flavor. Paired with the cauliflower it’s definitely a healthy comfort food meal. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
Thank you so much for commenting! I am so glad you like this recipe. It’s a favorite of ours too.
Thanks for sharing! Do the meatballs keep long?
They keep well for 3-4 days in the fridge:)
This was delicious! It’s just a few days into September and I’m already hankering for fall dishes. This fit the bill! I put a bit of Bell’s Seasoning in the meat because that tastes like Thanksgiving to me. Will be making this often. Thanks for the great recipe.
Thank you!