Spaghetti With Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Name: Spaghetti With Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus 2 additional tablespoons; 1 yellow onion, large, very finely diced; 3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced; 2 teaspoons fennel seeds; coarse sea salt; fresh ground pepper; 28 ounces whole tomatoes, pulsed in a food processor (or crushed by hand) or 28 ounces blender with their juice (or crushed by hand); ½ cup panko breadcrumbs; 12 lemon, zest only; ¼ cup flat leaf parsley, finely chopped; 1 tablespoon thyme, fresh, finely chopped; 1 teaspoon rosemary, fresh, finely chopped; 1 lb ground turkey (preferably dark meat); 1 egg; 1 lb spaghetti, cooked just before serving; ¼ cup basil leaves, fresh, roughly torn

Servings: persons

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus 2 additional tablespoons
1 yellow onion, large, very finely diced
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
coarse sea salt
fresh ground pepper
28 ounces whole tomatoes, pulsed in a food processor (or crushed by hand) or 28 ounces blender with their juice (or crushed by hand)
½ cup panko breadcrumbs
12 lemon, zest only
¼ cup flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 tablespoon thyme, fresh, finely chopped
1 teaspoon rosemary, fresh, finely chopped
1 lb ground turkey (preferably dark meat)
1 egg
1 lb spaghetti, cooked just before serving
¼ cup basil leaves, fresh, roughly torn

1
Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.
2
Add the onion and cook for about eight minutes sweating it without giving it too much color.
3
When it's soft, add the garlic and fennel seeds and season generously with salt and pepper (about a teaspoon of salt and a half teaspoon of pepper should do).
4
Saute for an additional three or four minutes.
5
Remove and reserve half of this onion mixture in a large mixing bowl.
6
Add the tomatoes and their juice to the remaining mixture in the pot, turn the heat to low and simmer while you make the meatballs.
7
be sure to put a little water in the tomato sauce can and swish it around and add it to the pot (don't want to waste a bit!
8
).
9
To make the meatballs, combine the breadcrumbs, lemon zest, parsley, thyme and rosemary with the reserved onion mixture.
10
Add the turkey and egg and mush it all with your hands (the best tool for this job) just until everything is well-combined; don't over mix.
11
Form the mixture into 1-1/2 inch balls with your hands (of course you can make them whatever size you like).
12
Heat the last two tablespoons of olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
13
Making sure not to overcrowd the pan, brown the meatballs (should take about five minutes).
14
Put the browned meatballs into the simmering tomato sauce and let them cook, shaking the pot occasionally to roll the meatballs around, for at least 20 minutes and up to an hour and a half.
15
Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper.
16
Serve with spaghetti and the torn basil.

598

kcal

Calories

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Avoid overcrowding the pan — cook in batches if needed for the best texture.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the flavors settle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Feel free to swap in similar ingredients you already have on hand and adjust seasoning to taste.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

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How did you like this recipe?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 16 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus 2 additional tablespoons, 1 yellow onion, large, very finely diced, 3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced, 2 teaspoons fennel seeds, and more.

Yes, Spaghetti With Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Sauce falls under the Pasta & Noodles category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.

That's it — enjoy your meal!