Italian Turkey Meatballs with Quick Tomato Sauce
 
 
Ingredients
Meatballs
  • ¼ cup milk
  • ½ slice whole wheat bread
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons grated onion (grated on the big holes of a box grater)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
  • 1 - 1½ pounds ground turkey
Tomato Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ¼ cup grated onion
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes (I like the Muir Glen Organic brand)
  • ½ teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
Meatballs
  1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Spray a mini muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. If you don't have a mini muffin tin, you could also use a baking sheet.
  2. Measure the milk into a small cup or bowl.
  3. Tear the bread into very small pieces, about the size of a dime. Add bread to the milk and stir. Let the mixture sit while you gather the rest of the ingredients.
  4. In a large bowl, add the garlic, grated onion, tomato paste, worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, parmesan, parsley and basil. Mix to combine. Add the bread/milk mixture and combine.
  5. Add the ground turkey to the bowl and mix thoroughly, taking care though not to over mix.
  6. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop out 1-2 tablespoons of the meat and use your hands to roll it into a ball. Put one meatball into each muffin cup.
  7. Bake the meatballs at 500 degrees for 13 minutes.
  8. While the meatballs are baking, make the quick tomato sauce.
Tomato Sauce
  1. In a large saucepan or heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat.
  2. Add the onion, oregano, salt and pepper. Stir and cook for 3-5 minutes until the onion is soft, slightly brown and fragrant.
  3. Add the minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant.
  4. Stir in the crushed tomatoes and brown sugar.
  5. Bring to a simmer and then lower the heat and cook for 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
  6. Before serving, add in the fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil.
  7. Stir the cooked meatballs into the sauce to warm them through before serving.
Notes
Serve the meatballs on their own, or with pasta, spaghetti squash or on a toasted roll.
Recipe by Sweet Peas and ABCs at https://www.sweetpeasandabcs.com/italian-turkey-meatballs-with-quick-tomato-sauce/