How to Make Turkey Meatballs With Pasta

Make the meatballs while the tomato sauce simmers. For juicier meatballs, use ground turkey that has both light and dark meat. Note that this recipe is very low in fat: The meatballs have just 7.3 grams of fat per serving, and the sauce has 3 grams of fat. Serves 6 (1 c. sauce and 5 meatballs).

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 tbsp. olive (not virgin) oil
• 1 c. diced onion
• 1 c. sliced mushrooms
• 1/4 c. diced green bell pepper
• 8 crushed garlic cloves - divided use
• 3/4 c. dry red wine
• 3/4 c. water
• 1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley - divided use
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 tsp. dried basil
• 1/2 tsp. dried, crushed rosemary
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 28-oz. can whole tomatoes undrained and chopped
• 1 6-oz. can tomato paste
• 1 1/2 lb. ground turkey
• 1/2 c. dry bread crumbs
• 1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
• 1/3 c. finely chopped green onions
• 1/4 c. coarsely shredded carrot
• 1/4 c. coarsely shredded zucchini
• 1 large egg white
• 1 lb. dried pasta
• Groceries
• 6 Pasta Bowls
• Broiler Pans
• Colanders
• Cooking Spray
• Ladles
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Saucepans
• Stockpots
• Saucepans
• Measuring cups

1. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat.

2. Add onion, mushrooms, bell pepper and 6 of the crushed cloves of garlic. Sauté 5 minutes.

3. Add wine, water, 1/4 c. parsley, sugar, oregano, basil, rosemary, 1/2 tsp. pepper, 1/4 tsp. salt, 2 bay leaves, tomatoes and tomato paste.

4. Bring mixture to a boil. Cover, and reduce heat to simmer 30 more minutes, stirring occasionally.

5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

6. Combine turkey, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, green onion, carrot, zucchini, remaining parsley, remaining 1/4 tsp. salt, remaining 1/4 tsp. pepper, egg white and remaining 2 crushed garlic cloves in a large bowl. Combine well.

7. Take handfuls of the turkey mixture, and form into 30 1 1/2-inch meatballs.

8. Place meatballs on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray.

9. Bake meatballs 15 minutes or until cooked through.

10. Prepare pasta according to box directions.

11. Drain pasta, and divide among 6 pasta bowls.

12. Stir baked meatballs into cooked tomato sauce, and ladle evenly over divided pasta. Serve.

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on 11/22/2005 I make beef and pork meatballs with Romano cheese, garlic, eggs, milk-soaked bread and salt. I do not brown them. I form the meatballs and drop them into a simmering sauce. Some cheese seeps into the sauce and adds to the flavor of the sauce. The meatballs do not need to be browned.