Italian Turkey Meatballs

Name: Italian Turkey Meatballs
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 4 h 45 min
Yield: 12 servings.
Cuisine: Europe, Italian
Ingredients: 3 slices white bread, torn into small pieces; 1/2 cup fat-free milk; 2 pounds lean ground turkey; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley; 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; SAUCE:; 2 medium onions, chopped; 1 medium green pepper, chopped; 2 cans (28 ounces each) crushed tomatoes in puree; 2 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tablespoon sugar; 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 2 bay leaves; Hot cooked pasta; Additional minced fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, optional

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 45 min. Cook: 4 hours YIELD: 12 servings.

What's not to love about moist and tender homemade Italian meatballs? Because they're made with lean turkey, they're lower in saturated fat, too! —Mary Berg, Lake Elmo, Minnesota

Ingredients

3 slices white bread, torn into small pieces
1/2 cup fat-free milk
2 pounds lean ground turkey
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
SAUCE:
2 medium onions, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
2 cans (28 ounces each) crushed tomatoes in puree
2 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 bay leaves
Hot cooked pasta
Additional minced fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, optional

Directions

1. Preheat broiler. Combine bread and milk in a large bowl; let stand until liquid is absorbed. Add next eight ingredients; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls; place on a greased rack of a broiler pan. Broil 5-6 in. from heat until lightly browned, 4-5 minutes.
2. For the sauce, in a 6-qt. slow cooker, mix the next nine ingredients. Add bay leaves and meatballs; gently stir into sauce.
3. Cook, covered, on low until meatballs are cooked through, 4-5 hours. Discard bay leaves. Serve with pasta; if desired, sprinkle with additional parsley and Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition Facts

3 meatballs with 2/3 cup sauce: 239 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 85mg cholesterol, 588mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 4g fiber), 22g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 starch.