High Protein Turkey Meatballs

Ingredients

For the Turkey Meatballs:

• 1 kg turkey mince
• 2 raw eggs
• Handful of chopped continental parsley
• 1 brown onion, diced
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp salt
• Pepper to taste
• 20g parmesan cheese

For the Garlic Confit

• 7 garlic cloves
• 6 tbsp olive oil

For the Risoni:

• 1 pack risoni
• 4 litres water

For the Tomato Cream Sauce:

• 250 ml light cream
• 1L tomato puree
• 1 brown onion, diced
• 2 tbsp minced garlic
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• A dash of onion powder
• Dried oregano, to taste
• 1 can (400 g) diced tomatoes
• A handful of chopped parsley
• A sprinkle of parmesan cheese

Optional

• Fresh basil, for garnish
• Extra parmesan cheese, for garnish

Method

1. Prepare the Garlic Confit:

• Place the 7 garlic cloves and 6 tbsp olive oil in a small saucepan.
• Warm gently over low heat until the garlic is soft and infused into the oil.
• Once done, reserve 1 tbsp of the infused oil to add into meatball mix.

2. Make the Turkey Meatballs:

• In a large bowl, combine the turkey mince, 2 eggs, chopped parsley, diced brown onion, 1 tbsp onion powder, salt, pepper, grated parmesan cheese, and 1 tbsp garlic confit oil.
• With gloves on, mix the ingredients thoroughly.
• Form the mixture into balls (approx. 20 meatballs).
• Preheat your oven to 200°C.
• Place the meatballs on a baking tray and bake for 12-15 minutes or until cooked through and lightly browned.

3. Cook the Risoni:

• Bring 4 litres of water to a boil in a large pot.
• Add the risoni and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente.
• Drain and set aside.

4. Prepare the Tomato Cream Sauce:

• In a large pot, combine 250 ml light cream, 1L of tomato puree, the diced brown onion, 2 tbsp minced garlic, salt, pepper, a dash of onion powder, and dried oregano.
• Stir in the can of diced tomatoes, chopped parsley, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
• Allow the sauce to simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly and the flavors meld.

5. Plate and Garnish:

• Arrange a serving of risoni on each plate.
• Top with 3 turkey meatballs.
• Spoon over the tomato cream sauce generously.
• Garnish with fresh basil leaves and additional grated parmesan cheese.

Nutritional Breakdown

A serving of risoni with 3 meatballs and creamy tomato sauce is estimated to provide approximately:

• 44 g Protein
• 17 g Fat
• 51 g Carbohydrates