Recipes » Turkey » Turkey Meatballs: Polpettine di Tacchino

Ingredients (Double for dinner for the week)

• For meatballs:
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 pound ground pork shoulder
• 2 1/2 cups bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
• 1 tablespoon red chile flakes
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
• Parmesan cheese
•  
• For sauce:
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 red onions, thinly sliced
• 1 head garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon red chili flakes
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary
• 2 cups red wine
• 1 (16-ounce) can San Marzano tomatoes and their juices, crushed by hand
• 1/2 bunch Italian parsley leaves, roughly chopped

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.


Meatballs:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the turkey, pork, bread crumbs, milk, garlic, eggs, rosemary, chile flakes, cheese, salt and pepper and mix with hands until just combined. Form into 5-ounce balls and place in a shallow casserole. Roast in the oven until dark golden brown. Set aside.

Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

Sauce:
Meanwhile, in a large oven-proof skillet, heat the olive oil over high heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook over medium heat until well browned.

Add the chili flakes and salt and pepper, to taste. Add the rosemary and red wine and stir until the wine is reduced by half.

Add the tomatoes and simmer for 15 minutes.

Add the meatballs, transferring to a large casserole if necessary, and cook in the oven 2 1/2 hours. Top with the parsley leaves and more parmesan.