Author:
Kevin Curry
Crunchy, Crispy Italian Meatballs
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Italian food more often means meatballs. Ground beef is delicious, but not all meatball recipes require it. This Italian meatballs recipe puts an interesting spin on it with turkey meat, bread crumbs, and feta cheese.
Meatball recipes are a versatile and delicious dish to have on hand to add to a variety of dishes, from lasagna to spaghetti, to sandwiches, to risotto. they are a handy way to add protein to any dish and can be made en mass in a slow cooker or instant pot ahead of time to aid in meal prep. They can also sit and marinate or sweat in tomato sauce or other marinades such as garlic and olive oil for extra flavor. A delicious Italian meatball can also be enjoyed on its own when in a pinch or when the craving hits you.
Turkey meat is easier to digest than red meat and has more protein than chicken. You can buy lots of turkey at a time, grind it up, and make it in massive portions, or buy it pre-ground up. This is a convenient way to utilize lots of meat you might have on hand in general.
Italian food has many parallels to other cuisines around the world. Noodles are, for example, the main staple of its dishes. People around the world are unsure which culture started cooking with noodles and many believe that it was something that was discovered separately by different cultures, with no “one” discoverer.
Italian food emphasizes the use of herbs to enhance and bring out subtleties in flavor. The use of basil, oregano, parsley, sage, and cilantro is common.
If you had a fun time trying these ground turkey recipes for quick and easy meals throughout the week, please drop me a comment or send me a message. I would love to hear from you! Keep happy and healthy! Buon Appetito!
Crunchy, Crispy Italian Meatballs
Ingredients
Substitution
Note
Ingredients for about 18 meatballs:
- Meatballs:
- 1lb 93% lean ground turkey
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon garlic (paste or minced)
- 1/3 cup chopped basil
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/3 cup chopped parsley
- 3/4 cup reduced-fat feta crumble
- 1/4 cup wheat panko bread crumbs
- Coating:
- 3/4 cup wheat panko bread crumbs
- 1/3 cup (5 tablespoons) golden flax seeds
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- pinch of sea salt & pepper
Steps
Step 1
Set oven to 420F.
Step 2
Mix together all of the ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl. Be sure it is thoroughly mixed together. Use an ice cream scooper (or large spoon) to carefully portion out each serving of meat so all the meatballs are roughly the same size. Form the meatball and place it on a dish.
Step 3
Once all the meatballs are formed, place them in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes so they can become more firm.
Step 4
While the meatballs are chilling, mix together all of the ingredients for the coating in another clean, dry bowl.
Step 5
Dip the meatballs in the coating and tightly pack in the coating. Place the coated meatball on a baking rack (or sheet).
Step 6
Bake the meatballs in the oven for about 20 minutes, until the outside is golden brown and the inside of the meatball is no longer pink. The meatball should be somewhat firm to touch, just be careful to not overcook and dry out the meatballs.
Step 7
Enjoy with homemade marinara, in a salad or even on a sandwich!
Approximate macros for 1 of 18 meatballs:
Crunchy, Crispy Italian Meatballs
Kevin Curry
Ingredients for about 18 meatballs:
- Meatballs:
- 1lb 93% lean ground turkey
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon garlic (paste or minced)
- 1/3 cup chopped basil
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/3 cup chopped parsley
- 3/4 cup reduced-fat feta crumble
- 1/4 cup wheat panko bread crumbs
- Coating:
- 3/4 cup wheat panko bread crumbs
- 1/3 cup (5 tablespoons) golden flax seeds
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- pinch of sea salt & pepper
-
Set oven to 420F.
-
Mix together all of the ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl. Be sure it is thoroughly mixed together. Use an ice cream scooper (or large spoon) to carefully portion out each serving of meat so all the meatballs are roughly the same size. Form the meatball and place it on a dish.
-
Once all the meatballs are formed, place them in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes so they can become more firm.
-
While the meatballs are chilling, mix together all of the ingredients for the coating in another clean, dry bowl.
-
Dip the meatballs in the coating and tightly pack in the coating. Place the coated meatball on a baking rack (or sheet).
-
Bake the meatballs in the oven for about 20 minutes, until the outside is golden brown and the inside of the meatball is no longer pink. The meatball should be somewhat firm to touch, just be careful to not overcook and dry out the meatballs.
-
Enjoy with homemade marinara, in a salad or even on a sandwich!
Nutrition per serving
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hey, I'm Kevin
My name is Kevin. My life changed when I realized that healthy living is a lifelong journey, mainly won by having a well-balanced diet and maintaining an active lifestyle.
By experimenting in the kitchen and sharing my meals on Tumblr, I learned healthy eating is not boring! By making a few adjustments to my favorite foods, I could design a diet that could help me achieve my wellness goals while satisfying my desire for BANGIN food! 😅 Now I try to help people around the world realize that same level of freedom in eating regardless of budget. Welcome, let's #DemocratizeWellness together!