Greek Turkey Meatballs with Elbow Macaroni

Yield 6

Pillar of Nutrition Eat the Rainbow, Lean on Protein

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Greek Turkey Meatballs with Elbow Macaroni

This recipe is very popular with our students.

Ingredients

• Meatballs
• ½ cup loose mint and parsley
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 ½ teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt
• ½ pound ground turkey
• 1 small egg
• 2 tablespoons panko or bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
• Pasta and Sauce
• 2 mini salad peppers, thinly sliced
• 6 ounces whole wheat elbow macaroni
• 1 cup chicken stock (about, might need more)
• 2.5 oz Greek yogurt
• Juice of ¼ wedge lime
• 1 small garlic clove
• 3 mint leaves
• Splash of water
• Kosher salt
• Extra mint, minced for garnish
• Feta cheese for garnish - optional

Directions

1. Meatballs
2. Finely chop the parsley, mint and two garlic cloves; mix in the olive oil and a pinch of salt.
3. Mix together the ground turkey, herb mix, egg, panko and parmesan cheese.
4. Mix in another pinch of salt and form into 1-inch meatballs.
5. Sear the meatballs in a hot skillet until browned all over, 8-10 minutes then set aside.
6. Pasta and Sauce
7. Add the sliced peppers to the hot pan along with a splash of water.
8. Stir and loosen the browned bits in the pan, creating a tiny sauce.
9. Add the pasta and chicken stock, keeping the heat on a medium and stirring as it
10. cooks.
11. Let simmer about six minutes until the pasta is al dente, adding more stock or water if the mixture looks dry.
12. Mix the meatballs back into the pasta.
13. Chop the mint leaves with the remaining garlic clove.
14. Stir into the Greek yogurt and squeeze in the lime juice then mix to combine the flavors, adding a little water if it is too thick.
15. Drizzle the yogurt sauce over the pasta, and sprinkle with the extra mint for garnish.
16. Serve immediately.

Notes

Substitution and variations

• Try using ground chicken or beef in place of the turkey
• Add dill with the mint or in place of it 

Something to Chew On

• What items in this recipe have protein?
• What else would you add or leave out of this recipe?