turkey meatballs in spicy Sicilian sauce

Today I've been in the kitchen preparing lunch for the coming week. I made turkey meatballs in spicy Sicilian sauce because I wanted to try and replicate a sauce I tasted last night.

My husband and I went out for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants - Grazies. It's super duper yummy Italian food. But of course, it's also high calorie food with creamy fatty sauces and the like. There are no end to my favorites at this place. Still, I held fast to my healthy lifestyle and made up my own order. I had 3 meatballs in their spicy Sicilian sauce with a side of broccoli and a side of zucchini & yellow squash. In hindsight, I could have made it less fattening by eating a chicken breast instead of the meatballs, but I am still quite happy with my choices.

I didn't have pasta, because 1) they don't sub 100% whole wheat pasta 2) they give you so much, it's hard to stop at enough (which would be 1 cup)

So I chose not to have the pasta. Not because I was "low carbing it". That will come later :(

Anyway, I chose this sauce because it's a tomato based sauce, instead of a creamy white sauce. And of course two servings of vegetables is win win. I didn't have wine. And of course, I didn't have dessert. Although I watched my husband eat one of my favorites: tiramisu. I am one strong willed woman!

The sauce was just amazing and like I said, I'm trying to replicate it. Although I have my doubts it will be as good. Right now, it's cooking on the stove, blending the flavors of Italia. Mmmmm. I swear I was Italian in a former life.

I thought I'd share the recipe with you for you to try, just in case you are an Italian food lover like me. I even had the recipe analyzed so I could give you the macros. Here it is!

Ingredients:

Meatballs

1 lb lean ground turkey

1/3 cup quick cooking oats

1/2 grated onion

1 large egg white

1 cup spinach leaves, chopped fine

1 tbsp almond meal

oregano

basil

cayenne pepper

Perfect Pinch salt free garlic and herb seasoning

pinch salt

1 tbsp chia seeds

Sauce

1 tbsp anchovy paste (you can omit this if you want - it's high in sodium, but I like the flavor)

12 oz can crushed tomatoes

red pepper flakes

oregano

garlic powder

onion powder

basil

3 garlic cloves

*note - all spices are done to taste, not measured

Directions:

1) in large bowl mix turkey, oats, onion, egg white, spinach, almond meal, spices & chia seeds. Form into balls. You should get about 22 meatballs.

2) heat some olive oil in a large fry pan. Brown meatballs on all sides carefully so they don't fall apart.

3) add crushed tomatoes, anchovy paste, red pepper flakes, spices and garlic cloves to the pan. Cover and simmer for at least 30 minutes to get the flavors to blend.

Nutrition Information:

servings: 7

serving size: 3 meatballs, 1/2 cup sauce

calories: 144

total fat: 8.4

sat fat: 1.4

sodium: 285

carb: 8.3

fiber: 2.8

sugar: 3.2

protein: 15.8