Ready & Packaged Foods
All →Vegetables & Legumes
All →Desserts & Confectionery
All →Meat & Protein
All →Grains & Bakery
All →Beverages
All →Milk & Dairy
All →🍲
Traditional bulgur and minced-meat meatballs
In season: Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
CALORIES · 100 G
GI
POTASSIUM · 100 G
FIBER · 100 G
1 serving (medium) of Malatya meatballs (180 g) has 342 calories. That works out to 190 calories per 100 g. It contains 32.8 g of carbs, 22.5 g of protein, 13.3 g of fat and 4.7 g of fiber. Its 1.9 µg of B12 covers 79% of the Daily Value. Its glycemic index is 48 (low), so it raises blood sugar slowly.
Selected: 1 serving (medium) · 180 g
342
KCAL / 180G
Carbs
32.8g
· 12% DV
Protein
22.5g
· 45% DV
Fat
13.3g
· 17% DV
Fiber
4.7g
· 17% DV
DV is the share of the daily value covered, on a 2,000 kcal reference diet.
Calories come from: Carbs 38% · Protein 26% · Fat 36%
| Nutrient | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 342 kcal | |
| Total fat | 13.3 g | 17% |
| Saturated fat | 4.59 g | 23% |
| Trans fat | 0.22 g | |
| Sodium | 702 mg | 31% |
| Total carbohydrate | 32.8 g | 12% |
| Fiber | 4.7 g | 17% |
| Protein | 22.5 g | 45% |
Calories: Calories measure energy. Average daily need is 2,000 kcal. Excess calories are stored as fat, too few cause weight loss.
Carbs: Your body's primary energy source. The brain runs exclusively on carbs. Daily need: 275g.
Protein: Essential for muscle repair and cell growth. Daily need: 50g. Keeps you full and boosts metabolism.
Fat: Needed for hormone production and vitamin absorption. Daily need: 78g. Limit saturated fats, choose unsaturated.
Fiber: Critical for digestive health and satiety. Daily need: 28g. Stabilizes blood sugar, lowers cholesterol.
Log this food in EatBetter
100,000+ people use it
📸 Scan the code to get the app free.

| Serving | Amount | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 1 serving (medium) | 180 g | 342 kcal |
| 1 piece (mini) | 25 g | 48 kcal |
| 3 piece (small) | 75 g | 143 kcal |
| 100 g | 100 g | 190 kcal |
| 5 piece (medium) | 125 g | 238 kcal |
| 1 cup (medium) | 200 g | 380 kcal |
| 1 serving (large) | 250 g | 475 kcal |
| 1 serving (extra large) | 350 g | 665 kcal |
Calculated from 190 calories per 100 g.
Malatya meatballs are a family of regional Turkish köfte made with bulgur and minced meat. Recipes vary in shape and preparation, so the name may refer to small meat-and-bulgur dumplings or another local style rather than one fixed recipe.
To make Malatya meatballs, soften fine bulgur, then knead it with minced meat, onion, and seasonings until it holds together. Shape the mixture according to the recipe and cook it gently, often by simmering in water or in a dish.
İçli köfte has a bulgur shell enclosing a separate filling, often seasoned minced meat. Malatya meatballs is a broader regional name: some versions are small and unfilled, while certain local preparations may also have a filling.
Malatya meatballs often fall apart when the bulgur has not softened enough or the mixture has not been kneaded until cohesive. Let the bulgur absorb moisture, knead thoroughly, and lower the shaped meatballs gently into a simmer rather than a vigorous boil.
Many Malatya meatball preparations are simmered or boiled, though the method depends on the particular regional recipe. Check the recipe for the style you are making; a gently simmering pot helps keep bulgur-based meatballs intact.
Malatya meatballs can be served as a main dish or as part of a brothy preparation. Plain yogurt, a crisp salad, or pickles make useful accompaniments, especially when the meatballs themselves are served without much sauce.
Yes, you can make a meat-free adaptation of Malatya meatballs by replacing the minced meat with finely chopped or grated vegetables and adjusting the bulgur mixture until it holds its shape. It will be a variation, not the traditional meat-based preparation.
Yes, Malatya meatballs can be frozen. Freeze uncooked pieces separately first so they do not stick together, then transfer them to a sealed container; cooked meatballs should be cooled before packing and freezing.
Refrigerate leftover Malatya meatballs in a covered container once they have cooled, rather than leaving them out for an extended period. Reheat them until hot throughout, and discard leftovers if their smell or appearance has changed.
For a lighter Malatya meatball dish, simmer or bake the meatballs instead of frying them and choose leaner minced meat. Using less oil in the sauce also lightens the finished dish without changing the bulgur-based character.
Vitamins
B12
1.89µg · 79% DV
B3
6.66mg · 42% DV
B6
0.5mg · 29% DV
B1
0.29mg · 24% DV
Minerals
Selenium
30µg · 55% DV
Zinc
4.77mg · 43% DV
Manganese
0.94mg · 41% DV
Phosphorus
277mg · 40% DV
Sodium
702mg · 31% DV
Potassium ⭐
486mg · 14% DV
GLYCEMIC INDEX
GLYCEMIC LOAD
Accounts for portion size — a more realistic measure than GI alone.
To burn the 342 calories in 1 serving (medium) (180 g):
🚶
Walking (5 km/h)
🏃
Running (8 km/h)
🚴
Cycling
🏊
Swimming
Times are calculated with the MET equation for a 70 kg adult. Actual burn varies with your weight, age and pace.
Malatya meatballs are a regional dish from Malatya in eastern Turkey, made by kneading bulgur and minced meat with onion and seasonings, then shaping the mixture into meatballs. Recipes vary between households, but bulgur gives them a hearty, substantial texture and the meat adds a savoury richness.
They are usually served hot as part of a home-cooked meal, often with yoghurt or a fresh salad. For Turkish readers, they make a filling alternative to a meal built around bread or rice; elsewhere, serve them with greens or roasted vegetables. Their nutrition reflects both main ingredients: they provide protein alongside bulgur’s carbohydrates and fibre. Add a generous salad for a lighter, balanced plate.
Medium
How many vitamins, minerals and how much fiber this food carries per calorie. A high score means a lot of nutrition for few calories.
Medium
An EatBetter score computed from fiber, protein and calorie density. A high score means staying full longer on the same calories.
Both scores are calculated per 100 g and do not change with the selected portion. The satiety score is EatBetter's own calculation, not a clinical measure.
NOVA 2
Minimally Processed
1. Unprocessed
2. Minimally Processed
3. Processed
4. Ultra-Processed
NOVA classifies foods into 4 groups by industrial processing. NOVA 1 (unprocessed) is the healthiest.
Contains these allergens:
Vegan
— Not suitable
Vegetarian
— Not suitable
Gluten-Free
— Not suitable
Dairy-Free
— Not suitable
Mediterranean
✓ Suitable
Paleo
— Not suitable
Whole30
— Not suitable
DASH
— Not suitable
Keto
— Not suitable
Low FODMAP
— Not suitable
SATURATED
4.59g
MONOUNSATURATED
5.72g
POLYUNSATURATED
1.55g
Omega 6:3 ratio 9.3:1
Above the ideal 4:1 (9.3:1).
Ask the AI nutrition coach — calories, portions, alternatives and more, answered in seconds in the app.
Nutrition data compiled from USDA FoodData Central and scientific sources.