Baked Ziti with Turkey Meatballs

Name: Baked Ziti with Turkey Meatballs
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Italian, European
Ingredients: 177 milliliters fresh bread crumbs; 1 egg, beaten; 118 milliliters chopped fresh parsley; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 454 grams ground turkey; 4 Tbsps olive oil; 118 milliliters chopped onion; 1 pint part-skim ricotta cheese; 3 Tbsps chopped, toasted pine nuts; 237 milliliters grated Romano cheese; 1 teaspoon salt; 355 milliliters mozzarella cheese, shredded; 1 liters tomato sauce; 454 grams dry ziti pasta

Baked Ziti with Turkey Meatballs might be a good recipe to expand your main course recipe box. This recipe serves 8. One serving contains 652 calories, 41g of protein, and 26g of fat. It is a pretty expensive recipe for fans of Mediterranean food. Head to the store and pick up bread crumbs, tomato sauce, pine nuts, and a few other things to make it today. To use up the olive oil you could follow this main course with the Sauteed Banana, Granolan and Yogurt Parfait as a dessert. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes approximately 45 minutes.

Instructions

In a bowl, stir together turkey, garlic, bread crumbs, onion, pine nuts, parsley, egg, salt and pepper. Form into meatballs about 1 inch in diameter.

Ingredients you will need

Salt And Pepper

Breadcrumbs

Meatballs

Pine Nuts

Parsley

Garlic

Whole Turkey

Onion

Egg

Equipment you will use

Bowl

In a large heavy skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Cook half of meatballs, shaking skillet, until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes.

Ingredients you will need

Meatballs

Cooking Oil

Equipment you will use

Frying Pan

Transfer meatballs to paper towels to drain. Brown remaining meatballs in remaining 2 tablespoons oil in same manner.

Ingredients you will need

Meatballs

Cooking Oil

Equipment you will use

Paper Towels

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Oil a 3 to 4 quart gratin dish.

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Cooking Oil

Equipment you will use

Oven

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

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Water

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Pot

Add the pasta, and cook until just al dente, about 8 minutes.

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Pasta

Drain.

In a small bowl, toss together mozzarella and romano cheese.

Ingredients you will need

Romano Cheese

Mozzarella

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Bowl

Spoon about 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce and half the meatballs into prepared dish, and spoon half the pasta on top.

Ingredients you will need

Tomato Sauce

Meatballs

Pasta

Spread half remaining sauce and half cheese mixture over pasta. Top with remaining meatballs, and drop dollops of ricotta over meatballs.

Ingredients you will need

Meatballs

Ricotta Cheese

Cheese

Sauce

Pasta

Spread remaining pasta over ricotta, and top with remaining sauce and cheese mixture.

Ingredients you will need

Ricotta Cheese

Cheese

Sauce

Pasta

Bake in middle of oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden.

Equipment you will use

Oven

Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Equipment

Ingredients

Servings:

177milliliters

fresh bread crumbs 1

egg, beaten 118milliliters

chopped fresh parsley 1clove

garlic, minced 1teaspoon

ground black pepper 454grams

ground turkey 4Tbsps

olive oil 118milliliters

chopped onion 1pint

part-skim ricotta cheese 3Tbsps

chopped, toasted pine nuts 237milliliters

grated Romano cheese 1teaspoon

salt 355milliliters

mozzarella cheese, shredded 1liters

tomato sauce 454grams

dry ziti pasta

Recommended wine: Chianti, Trebbiano, Verdicchio

Chianti, Trebbiano, and Verdicchio are my top picks for Italian. Italians know food and they know wine. Trebbiano and Verdicchio are Italian white wines that pair well with fish and white meat, while Chianti is a great Italian red for heavier, bolder dishes. One wine you could try is Barone Ricasoli Colledila Chianti Classico Gran Selezione. It has 4.5 out of 5 stars and a bottle costs about 85 dollars.