Lemon Grass Turkey Bites with Sweet & Hot Sauce

This recipe is so good, my boys LOVE these and they are very healthy! The sauce is very good, even though it takes so many ingredients! I do leave the chillies out of the sauce when I make it for my family and I double the turkey bites recipe! I usually serve this with brown rice and steamed pea pods or edemame. This recipe is from The Junior League of Boca Raton cookbook. It is one we made last year as an appetizer for Supper Club.

Turkey Bites

1 pound ground turkey
1 cup fine bread crumbs
3 Tablespoons lemon grass, minced
3 Tablespoons fresh mint, minced
2 Tablespoons fresh basil, minced
2 Tablespoons onion, grated
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
vegetable oil

Combine the turkey, bread crumbs, lemon grass, mint, basil, onion, garlic, olive oil, egg, and salt in a bowl and mix well. Shape into 1 1/4 inch balls. Place on a tray.
Heat 1/2 inch vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium, heat until hot, but not smoking. Add the turkey bites in batches and fry for 3 to 5 minutes or until cooked through and golden brown.
Remove to paper towels and keep warm in a 250 degrees oven while making the sauce.

* I had a hard time finding fresh lemon grass, but I did find a tube of it already minced, in with the fresh herbs at my grocery store.*

Sweet and Hot Sauce

2 Tablespoons sesame oil
1 Tablespoon minced ginger root
1 Tablespoon garlic, minced
6 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup dark molasses
1 Tablespoon dry sherry
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 Tablespoons fresh red chilies, minced
2 Tablespoons corn starch
2 1/2 Tablespoons cold water

Heat the sesame oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the ginger and garlic and saute for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown.
Add the cider vinegar, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, and molasses, sherry, soy sauce, and chilies. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer for 3 minutes stirring frequently.
Whisk the cornstarch into the cold water in a small bowl. Whisk into the simmering sauce and bring to a boil stirring constantly. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Allow to cool for 15 minutes and serve with turkey bites.