| Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 45 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 297 | 12g | 3g | 17g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 6g | 3g | 23g | 0.67g |
Why I Love Italian Turkey Meatballs with Tomato Sauce
One does not have to stray far from childhood memories to immediately be reminded of their favorite home-cooked meal. For me, that would be a soul-satisfying, comforting dish of Turkey Meatballs with Tomato Sauce. Despite my Cuban and Spanish roots, I’ve always had a fondness for the rich, hearty flavors that come from the heart of Italy. Now living in Miami, I’ve dubbed this recipe as my ‘return ticket’ to those trips to the charming cobblestone streets of Rome and Florence where I first tasted the enchanting flavors of Italian cuisine.
Rediscovering the Love for Italian Cuisine
Inspired by famous Italian-American chef, Lidia Bastianich, I’ve decided to recreate a variation of this classic Italian recipe, substituting traditional beef with turkey — a lighter yet equally delicious alternative. This recipe combines some of my favorite ingredients, such as onions, garlic, and my secret weapon – crushed tomatoes, to create an unforgettable blend of flavors.
View Lidia Bastianich’s Original Recipe
Developing a World of Flavors
What I truly enjoy about this Turkey Meatballs with Tomato Sauce recipe is its versatility – it can easily be tweaked to suit personal preferences without sacrificing the essence of the dish. The succulent turkey meatballs, when paired with the robust tomato sauce, accentuates the overall texture and enriches it with a significant depth of flavor. It’s like embarking on a tantalizing journey where each bite introduces a new, enticing layer of complexity.
Discover More Italian Meatball Recipes
To me, this recipe doubles as an ultimate comfort food and an exciting culinary adventure. Whether it’s a casual weekday dinner or a weekend gathering with friends, these turkey meatballs wrapped in a tangy tomato sauce never fail to hit the right spots and always leave me yearning for more.
What You’ll Need
- 1 and 1/2 pounds of ground turkey
- 1/2 cup of bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup of fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cups of canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon of dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- 1/4 cup of fresh basil, chopped
Method
Step One
Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, mix together the ground turkey, bread crumbs, grated parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, minced garlic cloves, eggs, salt, and black pepper. Carefully shape the mixture into one-inch diameter meatballs and place these on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Step Two
Place the prepared meatballs in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until they’re browned and cooked through. While the meatballs are baking, heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until it’s soft and translucent.
Step Three
Once the onion is cooked, add the canned crushed tomatoes, dried basil, red pepper flakes, a pinch of salt, and sugar to the saucepan. Allow this mixture to simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step Four
When the meatballs are done, carefully transfer them into the saucepan with the tomato sauce. Gently stir to coat the meatballs in the sauce and allow them to simmer in the sauce for about 10 more minutes.
Step Five
Finally, stir in the fresh basil and season the sauce with additional salt, if necessary. Serve the turkey meatballs with tomato sauce hot, with an additional sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese on top if you like. Enjoy!
