Mini Turkey Meatballs

• 1 small onion, grated
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup dried bread crumbs
• 3 tablespoons ketchup
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 pound ground dark turkey meat
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 26 ounces Simple Tomato Sauce, recipe follows, or store-bought marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 (32-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
• 4 to 6 basil leaves
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional

1. Add the onion, garlic, egg, bread crumbs, ketchup, parsley, Parmesan, Pecorino, salt and pepper to a large bowl and blend.
2. Mix in the turkey.
3. Shape the turkey mixture into 1 1/4-inch-diameter meatballs.
4. Place on a large plate or baking sheet.
5. Heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium-high heat.
6. Add the meatballs and saute until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.
7. Turn off heat.
8. Transfer the meatballs to a plate.
9. Pour off any excess oil.
10. Add the marinara sauce, about 3 cups.
11. Return all the meatballs to the pan.
12. Turn the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly and the flavors blend, 15 to 20 minutes.
13. Season the sauce, to taste, with salt and pepper.
14. Transfer the meatball mixture to a serving bowl.
15. Serve with toothpicks.
16. In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat.
17. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes.
18. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper.
19. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes.
20. Add tomatoes, basil, and bay leaves and simmer covered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick.
21. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning.
22. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
23. Add half the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor.
24. Process until smooth.
25. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
26. If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags.
27. This will freeze up to 6 months.

onion, garlic, egg, bread crumbs, ketchup, fresh italian parsley, parmesan, romano, salt, ground black pepper, turkey meat, olive oil, tomato sauce, extravirgin olive oil, onion, garlic, celery, carrot, salt, tomatoes, basil, bay leaves, unsalted butter

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/mini-turkey-meatballs-recipe.html (may not work)