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Monster Meatballs with Marinara Sauce

Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 8

Ingredients

  • For the sauce:
  • 1-2 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped or minced
  • 3 tbsp tomato paste
  • pinch red pepper flake optional
  • 2 28oz cans crushed tomatoes
  • 1.5 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 2 tsp dried basil OR 1 bunch fresh basil
  • 1-2 tsp baking soda optional
  • For the meatballs:
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp parsley
  • 1.5 tsp salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 lbs lean ground meat ground turkey, lean ground beef, etc.

Instructions

  • For the sauce:
  • Heat the oil in the pan over medium heat, and add the garlic
  • Cook, stirring constantly for 30 seconds.
  • Add the tomato paste and break it up with a wooden spoon so that it melts into the oil.  The oil should turn bright orange.  Cook for another minute or two.
  • Add a pinch of red pepper flake (optional).
  • When the oil is orange and the garlic is fragrant, add the tomato sauce.
  • Add the spices and sugar.  If you are using fresh basil, add that in, too.
  • Allow to simmer, stirring occasionally.
  • If you need to cut the acidity, add a bit of baking soda while the sauce is simmering.
  • If you used fresh basil, remove it before eating the sauce.
  • For the meatballs:
  • Preheat the oven to 375°.
  • Dump the breadcrumbs in a bowl along with the spices and parmesan cheese.
  • Pour the milk on top of the breadcrumb mixture and add the eggs.
  • Whip this mixture together loosely so that the eggs are beaten and the breadcrumbs are wet. Then allow it to sit for a few minutes.
  • Add the ground meat, and with a loose hand, blend the mixture together. 
  • Divide the meat into 8 equal portions and roll into balls.
  • Place the meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until the internal temperature reaches 160° (roughly 35 minutes).
  • Take the meatballs out of the oven, plate them and top with sauce.  Top with parsley and parmesan cheese.

Notes

Nutrition estimate is for one meatball using 93/7 lean ground turkey (1/8 of the recipe).
285 calories - 14 fat - 10 carbs - 31.5 protein