Italian Turkey Meatballs

By vealam

Ingredients

• MEATBALLS:
• 4 cups of marinara sauce (I used slow-roasted marinara)
• 1.5 lbs ground turkey
• 1/3 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup chopped parsley
• Salt pepper
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• MARINARA:
• 2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 28oz can whole tomatoes in purée
• 15 slow-roasted tomato halves, skins removed
• 2 small yellow onions, diced
• 7 cloves of roasted garlic (or 4 cloves fresh) minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 5-6 fresh basil leaves, whole
• Salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup red wine

Details

Servings 8
Adapted from jellytoastblog.com

Preparation

Step 1

MEATBALLS:
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, add the marinara sauce and heat over medium low heat. Gently bring sauce to a simmer while you form the meatballs.

In a large bowl, add remaining ingredients and mix gently with clean hands.

Use a  1/4 measuring cup to scoop the turkey mixture and then divide mixture in half to form two meatballs per scoop. This method ensures an evenly sized batch of meatballs.

Gently drop the rolled meatballs into the simmering sauce.

Simmer for 20 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through.

When meatballs are cooked, stir very gently with wooden spoon, taking care not to break up the meat balls.

Serve over pasta, on a hoagie roll or just a big old bowl of meatballs.

Enjoy!

MARINARA:
In a large saucepan or dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sautéed onions and garlic about 5 minutes or until soft and beginning to caramelize.

Add tomatoes, purée and roasted tomatoes; stirring and breaking up with a wooden spoon. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook for about 5 minutes.

Stir in oregano, basil, salt, pepper and wine. Lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until sauce is slightly reduced.

Blend with an immersion blender to achieve the desired consistency. I like a chunky-ish sauce, so left mine with a bit of chunk in it.

Sauce can be kept in air tight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.