| Meat balls are delicious with a great tomato sauce. | | | | 1/2 cup bread crumbs |
| And making this classic dish with this recipe improves | | | | 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese |
| the healthiness and nutrition of a delicious comfort-food | | | | Sauce: |
| meal because it is chock full of onions and garlic with | | | | 1/4 cup sweet onion, chopped |
| all their built-in nutrition. | | | | 2 cloves of garlic, chopped |
| When it comes to meatballs, I prefer to use ground | | | | 4 cups chopped fresh tomatoes |
| turkey. My research shows that ground turkey may | | | | 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves |
| not be much lower than ground beef when it comes | | | | 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (to taste) |
| to fat and calories. It depends on what you choose for | | | | One tablespoon of Italian seasoning |
| a fat content of ground beef and a white meat vs. | | | | Fresh ground black pepper (to taste) |
| dark meat content for ground turkey. It is a matter of | | | | Kosher or sea salt (to taste, not more than ¼ |
| personal choice. I prefer the flavor of ground turkey to | | | | teaspoon) |
| ground beef. I think very lean ground beef tastes like | | | | In a large bowl gently mix together meatball ingredients. |
| cardboard. If you are watching fat and calories closely | | | | Form the meatballs, using your hands, to the size you |
| enough to be concerned, you might want to avoid | | | | desire. Feel free to add more Parmesan or bread |
| ground meats altogether. That said, lets move on to | | | | crumbs if your meat balls are too sticky. |
| the delicious recipes. I have included the recipe for a | | | | Brown over medium high heat in a large non-stick |
| yummy, healthy tomato sauce. For more information | | | | skillet using as little oil as you can, about 2 tablespoons. |
| on this sauce and its nutrients please see my article | | | | Use an oil with a high smoke point, such as canola or |
| You Can Make Your Own Fresh Healthy Tomato | | | | grape seed oil to minimize smoke. |
| Sauce, and it is Easier Than You Think. | | | | Just before the meat balls are fully browned add the |
| One additional note here is that garlic, onions and | | | | garlic and onions for the sauce. When the meat balls |
| rosemary are all great natural anti-bacterials. When my | | | | are brown, crank the heat to high, then add tomatoes, |
| husband or I feel like we are fighting a bug, we go for | | | | red and black pepper, Italian seasoning and salt. Easy |
| this meatball and sauce combo and send the germs | | | | on the salt, it is mostly here to help the tomatoes |
| running away in fear. | | | | release their moisture. |
| Meatballs: | | | | Stir often for at least 5 minutes while the tomatoes |
| 1 lb. ground turkey | | | | release the bulk of their moisture, then reduce heat to |
| 10 cloves garlic, smashed & chopped | | | | low and simmer for at least 15 minutes, stirring |
| 2 tablespoon chopped rosemary, fresh tastes best | | | | occasionally. The longer it simmers, the better it will |
| 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper | | | | taste! Add the basil in the final minute. Great over |
| ½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt | | | | whole wheat pasta or brown rice. |
| 2 eggs | | | | |