Low-Fat Turkey Meatballs

Having been told that red meat is not healthful for us, especially since my wife has kidney problems and should avoid red meat as much as possible, we searched around for a substitute. While you may scoff at using turkey as a replacement for beef, don't knock it till you've tried it. These can be quite zesty and they are full of flavor. We've been making these for about five years now and they have become a staple in our recipe book.

LOW FAT TURKEY MEATBALLS

Basic Ingredients

1 pound ground turkey

1 cup Italian style breadcrumbs (okay to substitute plain breadcrumbs if you watch salt intake)

½ cup diced red onions

4 large egg yolks

1 Tablespoon ground cumin

3 teaspoons lemon zest

2 Tablespoons dried oregano

2 cloves garlic, minced

Freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 C)

2. Lightly oil a 9 x 13 inch baking disk or coat with nonstick spray (I line with parchment paper)

3. In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, onion, egg yolks, garlic, lemon zest, oregano, cumin, and pepper to taste.

4. Using a wooden spoon or clean hands, stir until well combined.

5. Roll the mixture into 1 ¼ to 1 ½ inch meatballs, making about 18 to 20 meatballs.

6. Place meatballs onto the prepared baking dish and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until all sides are browned and meatballs are cooked through.

7. Serve according to your taste.

This is what one batch of meatballs looks like.

Spaghetti with turkey meatballs.

NOTES: We like these as a low fat alternative to beef meatballs and serve them with spaghetti or other pasta. They are a great substitute for beef in a meatball grinder or sub. Sometimes we like them just as they are and use them as a between meal treat. These meatballs also are terrific as appetizers with your choice of dipping sauce.