Italian Turkey Meatballs
Indulge in these flavorful Italian turkey meatballs bathed in a rich homemade tomato sauce. They're perfect for topping your choice of pasta, pizza, or even as a hearty filling for a sandwich!
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Ingredients
- 20 oz 1.3 lb ground turkey breast 93% lean
- 1/4 cup parsley
- 1 egg
- 1 large clove garlic
- 1 tsp kosher salt + fresh pepper
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 small onion
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil
- salt and fresh pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup whole wheat seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup Pecorino or Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- 1
In a medium saucepan, warm olive oil over medium heat. Toss in the minced garlic and sauté until it turns a lovely golden brown, taking care not to allow it to burn. Incorporate the crushed tomatoes, diced onion, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and bay leaf. Mix well and then lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and allow it to cook on low for 5 to 10 minutes.
- 2
In the meantime, take a large mixing bowl and combine the ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, chopped parsley, minced garlic, and cheese. With slightly damp hands, blend all the ingredients thoroughly until they are well mixed. Shape the mixture into small meatballs, roughly the size of a ping pong ball (about 1/8 cup each).
- 3
If desired, you can sear the meatballs in a skillet until browned, or alternatively, place them under the broiler on a baking sheet for 7 to 8 minutes until the tops are nicely golden. OR you can simply drop them directly into the sauce.
- 4
Introduce the meatballs to the sauce and let them simmer for approximately 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and onion before serving over pasta or alongside whole wheat Italian bread.
Nutrition Information
Notes & Tips
- You can make them with 99% lean turkey although they will be more dry, if you do.