Lean Turkey Meat Balls with Colorful Fusilli

Aren't you tired of chicken ?
Let's try some turkey this evening and let's bake the meat balls instead of frying them to save on some calories and still have a great taste.
These turkey meat balls are not only good, but also good for you, given the fact that the fat is almost nonexistent.
For some variation, I added some sesame seeds right before baking, but it did not seem to make much of a difference.

Ingredients:
270 gr ground turkey or more if you wish
1 egg (small if possible)
2 garlic cloves, mashed
1/2 onion, finely diced


2 TBSP water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
a dash of each of these 3 : oregano, basil, tarragon
sesame seeds to roll
** optional 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs



Directions:
Combine all the ingredients with a plastic spatula or spoon or better yet - with your hand.


If you decide to use the bread crumbs, let the mixture sit for at least 2 hours, so the crumbs can soak the liquids and soften.


When ready to bake, shape a spoonful of meat into a ball shape, making sure it is about 1 and 1/2 inch in diameter.


Preheat the oven to 400 F and spray a baking pan with oil.


Roll some of the meat balls into sesame if you wish and bake for 25 to 3 minutes.
The baking soda will puff them up, so do not worry about them being undercooked at the 20 or 25 minutes mark.
Just take one out and taste.
Enjoy !



I served mine with fusilli pasta, beautifully colored.

This is how I prepared the pasta:

Ingredients:
1 cup dry fussili


a few cherry tomatoes
2 TBSP tomato sauce
1 TBSP butter
salt
pepper
basil



Directions:
Bring 4 to 6 cups of water to a boil in a pot, salt it with 2 teaspoons of salt as this is the main important seasoning for the pasta itself to be flavored, and boil the pasta for 8 to 10 minutes, making sure you taste it at the 8 minutes mark.
Drain well and make the sauce.


Place the tomato sauce, butter, salt and pepper in a saucepan and stir over medium heat until the butter has melted.


Add the basil, stir and add the drained pasta.
Plate and serve with the meat balls and do not forget to top with the cherry tomatoes.


Good appetite !