Mini Turkey Balls

Cameo Culinary Club - Mini Turkey Balls

Each Thanksgiving nearly 675 million pounds of turkey are devoured by Americans—and can you blame them? In addition to having a hearty, melt-in-your-mouth texture, turkey is low in fat and high in protein. It's also an excellent source of iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, and B vitamins. And talk about a multi-purpose poultry—Sesame Street's Big Bird has a costume made entirely of turkey feathers! Because turkey is more heart-healthy than many cuts of beef or pork, incorporating more of this bird into your diet is a smart idea. And this month's recipe takes turkey beyond Thanksgiving by giving the meat a zesty Italian kick. Mini turkey meatballs make an unexpected and inviting appetizer, and will have your guests begging for the recipe. These succulent meatballs echo the flavors of Italy with fresh herbs, creamy Pecorino Romano cheese, and seasoned bread crumbs. So give these delicious hors d'oeuvres a spin at your next holiday gathering... We guarantee they'll be "gobbled" up!
- Cameo Girls

 

Mini Turkey Meatballs

Prep time: 25 min Cook time: 25 min Serves: 42 mini meatballs

Ingredients:

  1. 1 small onion, grated
  2. 3 garlic cloves, minced 
  3. 1 large egg ¼ cup dried bread crumbs 
  4. 3 tablespoons ketchup ¼ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves ¼ cup grated Parmesan 
  5. ¼ cup grated Pecorino Romano 1 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 
  6. 1 pound ground turkey meat 3 tablespoons olive oil 
  7. 26 ounces store-bought marinara sauce

Directions:

  1. Add the onion, garlic, egg, bread crumbs, ketchup, parsley, Parmesan, Pecorino, salt and pepper to a large bowl and blend. 
  2. Mix in the turkey. 
  3. Shape the turkey mixture into 1 ¼-inch diameter meatballs. 
  4. Place on a large plate or baking sheet. Heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium-high heat. 
  5. Add the meatballs and sauté until brown on all sides (about 5 minutes). 
  6. Turn off heat. 
  7. Transfer the meatballs to a plate. 
  8. Pour off any excess oil. 
  9. Add the marinara sauce (about 3 cups). 
  10. Return all the meatballs to the pan. 
  11. Turn the heat to medium low and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly and the flavors blend (15-20 minutes). 
  12. Season the sauce, to taste, with salt and pepper. 
  13. Transfer the meatball mixture to a serving bowl. 
  14. Serve with toothpicks.