Italian Meatball Bites

Name: Italian Meatball Bites
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 40 meatballs
Ingredients: 450 g lean ground turkey; 2 mild Italian sausage, casings removed; ¾ cup finely grated Parmean; ⅓ cup panko bread crumbs; 1 egg, beaten; 2 tbsp sun-dried tomato pesto; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tbsp Italian seasoning; ¼ tsp each salt and pepper; 40 short wood skewers; 40 mini bocconcini; 1 cup fresh basil leaves; 1 jar marinara sauce

Prep Time20 mins
Total Time30 mins
Makes40 meatballs

Photo: Roberto Caruso

What's not to love about a homemade meatball coupled with fresh basil and a mini bocconcini on a stick? Your party guests won't be disappointed by these.

Ingredients

450 g lean ground turkey
2 mild Italian sausage, casings removed
¾ cup finely grated Parmean
⅓ cup panko bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp sun-dried tomato pesto
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
¼ tsp each salt and pepper
40 short wood skewers
40 mini bocconcini
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 jar marinara sauce

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
Mix turkey, sausage, Parmesan, panko, egg, pesto, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in a large bowl until well-combined. Scoop out heaping spoonfuls of turkey mixture and form into balls to make 40 meatballs. Place on prepared sheet. Bake meatballs until no longer pink inside, flipping halfway through cooking, about 10 min.
Thread each skewer with 1 ball of bocconcini, 1 basil leaf and 1 meatball. Serve on a platter with warmed marinara sauce with extra sauce for dipping.

Nutrition (per meatball)

Protein 14g, Carbohydrates 4g, Fat 13g, Sodium 251mg.

Originally published in the November + December 2017 issue. Photo by Roberto Caruso.