Turkey Zucchini Meatballs

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Description

For extra flavor, these lean turkey meatballs are loaded with sauteed zucchini, onion, eggs, multigrain bread crumbs, and a sprinkling of fresh and dried herbs.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup shredded zucchini
3/4 cup grated onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 slices multigrain bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/4 cup milk
1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
2 Heat vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute zucchini and onion until softened, about 8 minutes. Add garlic; cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let mixture cool to room temperature.
3 Soak bread in a small bowl with milk until milk is absorbed, about 2 minutes. Remove bread and gently squeeze out excess milk. Place bread in a food processor and pulse until mixture forms fine crumbs resembling wet sand.
4 Combine ground turkey with the sauteed zucchini mixture, bread crumbs, oregano, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Add eggs, Parmesan cheese, and parsley; mix thoroughly. Form mixture into 12 large meatballs using a large ice cream scoop.
5 Place 1/3 cup flour in a shallow dish. Dredge meatballs in flour and place 1 inch apart in the prepared baking pan. Drizzle olive oil over meatballs.
6 Bake in the preheated oven until meatballs are lightly browned on top and no longer pink in the center, 30 to 38 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a meatball should read at least 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).