Baked Ziti and Turkey Meatballs
What you will need:
For the Baked Ziti:
1 8 ounce box Rotini or Ziti shells (Whole Wheat or Chickpea)
1 15 ounce can of tomato – basil sauce
2 12 oz jar of marinara sauce
8 ounces of shredded cheese (I recommend a mixed blend. I used a 12 ounce bag of Trader Joe’s Quattro Formaggio)
3 ounces of Parmesan cheese
5 cloves of fresh garlic
½ medium sized onion
1 whole shallot
1 cup chicken or veggie stock/broth
2 cups of fresh arugula
2 tablespoon of canola oil
1 teaspoon of black pepper
½ teaspoon of salt
2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes
For Ricotta Balls:
5 tablespoons of Ricotta Cheese
Red Pepper Flakes
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
A few sprigs of fresh basil
For turkey meatballs:
2 lbs of ground turkey, 99% lean
½ cup of old fashion oats (sub for breadcrumbs)
1/3 cup of unsweetened almond milk
1 large egg
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon of cumin
¼ teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon of dried parsley
Instructions:
Preheat your oven at 350 degrees. Start the sauce. Thinly slice onion and shallots and rough chop garlic. Add one tablespoon of canola oil to a pot on medium. When pot is hot enough, add veggies. Cook until soften.
Add your seasonings to the pot. Mix thoroughly and cook for 2 minutes.
3. Incorporate pasta into pot with veggies and seasoning. Add ½ chicken stock/broth in the same pot and mix.
4. Add arugula and cook until it is wilted. Mix thoroughly.
5. Add tomato sauce and ½ a jar of the marinara sauce. Mix, cover, and turn heat down to low. Let simmer for 20 minutes.
6. Move on to preparing the meatballs. In a large bowl, add ground turkey meat. Create a shallow well in the middle of the ground turkey to assist with mixing.
7. Add oats, milk, egg, and seasonings. Mix well by hand.
8. In a pan over medium – high heat, add canola oil. Form 2-ounce meatballs and add to pan. Make sure to sear all over the meatball, but do not cook all the way through. Note: you can sear 4 -5 meatballs at a time so there is enough space to turn.
9. Set aside the seared meatballs and move on to making the ricotta balls. Roll basil leaves and slice thinly. In a ball, mix ricotta, salt, crushed red pepper, garlic powder, and fresh basil.
10. Construct the baked ziti. Pour ziti mixture into a hot baking pan. Add and mix shredded cheese blend with the mixture. Take remaining stock/broth and pour in the edges of pan. Take ricotta mixture, and use a spoon to form ricotta balls. Create four rows of three. Sprinkle parmesan cheese over the top.
11. Put into the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
12. Pour the remaining marinara sauce in the same pot used for ziti mixture. Bring sauce to a simmer and add turkey meatballs. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, low heat.
Plate and enjoy!
