Turkey Meatball Grinders

Ingredients

Tomato sauce

• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 each red and green bell pepper, cored seeded, halved and slivered
• 2 clove garlic, peeled and slightly bruised
• 2 can (28 oz each) Italian plum tomatoes, drained and chopped, juice reserved
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• pinch sugar
• salt and black pepper to taste
• ¼ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Turkey meatballs

• 2 lbs ground turkey
• 1 med onion, grated
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• salt and coarsely ground black pepper to taste
• 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten or use 1 egg white or 2 tbsp of egg substitute
• 2 tbsp olive oil, for frying
• 3 Italian breads, about 15-in long and 3-in wide

Procedures

Tomato sauce

1. Heat olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium-low heat.
2. Add onion, bell peppers and garlic; cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add tomatoes along with 1 cup of reserved juices, tomato paste, oregano, sugar, salt and black pepper.
4. Cook for 25 minutes.
5. Mash the garlic in the pot and adjust the seasonings.
6. Stir in the parsley and set the sauce aside.

Turkey meatballs

1. Mix all the ingredients, except oil, together in a bowl.
2. Form the mixture into 24 meatballs, each about 1 ½ inches in diameter.
3. (See note 1 below) heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat and cook the meatballs in batches, shaking the pan occasionally, for about 10 to 12 minutes or until browned and cooked through.
4. Add more oil if necessary.
5. Remove the meatballs to paper towels to drain.
6. Place the tomato sauce over medium heat to warm through.
7. Add the meatballs and cook for 10 to 12 minutes.
8. To serve, spoon about ¼ cup of the sauce into each piece of bread or roll, coating the interior well.
9. Insert 3 meatballs into each and serve immediately.

Nutritional information

Per serving (3 meatballs, without egg) : calories - 668, fat - 18 gms. (about 24% of calories from fat), cholesterol - 90 mg. No diabetic exchanges were listed.