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Baked Turkey Meatballs

Tuesday, Jul 28, 2009 | Updated 11:46 PM EST

Skip the ground beef at the grocery store. Try this healthy and inexpensive idea.

Makes 48 meatballs.

Baked turkey meatballs are an inexpensive and healthy alternative to ground beef. Form the meatballs, bake them, then cover them with tomato sauce and reheat for this wonderful meatball casserole. Serve with pasta on the side for a complete meal.

1 ½ lb. of lean ground turkey
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrot
2 cups broccoli florets
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp. paprika
1 tbsp. oregano
4 tbsp. ketchup
2 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp. molasses
1 tbsp. kosher salt
2-3 dashes Tabasco
2 eggs
2 ½ cups bread crumbs
1 quart favorite prepared tomato sauce
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the ground turkey in a large mixing bowl. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a chopping blade, place chopped onion, carrot, broccoli, garlic, paprika, oregano, ketchup, soy sauce, molasses, salt, Tabasco and eggs.

Puree these ingredients into a fine paste, then add to them to the bowl of ground turkey.

Incorporate the bread crumbs, mixing well. Form 48 mini-meatballs, placing each on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Cool slightly.

In the meantime, pour half the tomato sauce into a 9-by-13 inch Pyrex baking dish.

Transfer the meatballs to the baking dish, then top with remaining sauce.

Spread the Parmesan cheese over the top of the meatballs, then bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese is slightly browned and the meatball are hot.

Serve with your favorite pasta.