Entrees (Vegetarian)

Zucchini Pasta with Red Sauce and Oat-Filled Turkey Meatballs

Do you ever see a really good deal on a cookbook and feel obligated to buy it? I’m normally not an impulse shopper, but when it comes to certain things, like cookbooks, I am! Our local grocery store has a giant cookbook sale every once in a while, and last year this book was on sale for two dollars. Yes, two-dollars!!Zucchini Pasta 1

Strangely enough, I’ve yet to make any of the “skinny desserts” (there is a molten lava cake that I’m planning on making soon), but I have to say I’m pretty proud of the fact that I’ve even used the cookbook once. I mean, with Pinterest, wonderful blogs and recipe websites, who needs cookbooks anymore?! Well, as it turns out, I do! This was actually the second recipe I made from this cookbook, and coincidently the first one I made was also using ground turkey (turkey meatloaf with crimini mushrooms). Today I want to share with you a lower carbohydrate, fat, and therefore lower calorie way to make “spaghetti and meatballs”.Zucchini Pasta 2
You’ll start with the “meatballs”……

Turkey Meatballs with Oats

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground turkey breast
  • ½ cup old fashioned oats
  • 2 egg white
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • ½ tsp. dried thyme
  • 1 tsp. dried basil
  • 1 tsp. sea salt
  • 1 tsp. black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine the turkey, oats, egg, oregano, thyme, basil, salt and pepper. Mix well. Roll into 12 meatballs (about 2 heaping tablespoons each). Spray a heavy ovenproof skillet (or baking sheet) with nonstick spray. Place the meatballs in skillet and bake for 12 minutes or until done (should reach 165 degrees).

Notes

** If you are following a low FODMAPs diet, these meatballs are low FODMAPs. They are also gluten-free, especially if you choose a certified gluten-free oat.

Estimated nutrition facts for 1-serving (3 turkey balls)

And if you want to have a very low calorie and low carbohydrate “pasta”, make zucchini noodle pasta (or spaghetti squash is another option). Simply shred zucchini and boil it for about 5 minutes (I used 4 zucchini for 4 servings).Zucchini Pasta 3

Step one: shred the zucchini (1 small zucchini per person)Zucchini Pasta 4Step two: boil water, then add zucchini and allow to simmer for 5 minutesZucchini Pasta 5

Step three: strain and put into a bowlZucchini Pasta 6

Step five: add your favorite toppings

If you eat about 1 cup of the zucchini you will only be consuming about 20-30 calories. Compare that to regular pasta, which is about 180-200 calories in a cup. Yeah, now you get it! And this is even husband approved. I reluctantly served this to Nick but was happy to see (and hear from his “Mmmmm”) that he enjoyed this dish just as much as I did. In fact, here is what he said, “What is this?” and I said, “Zucchini!! Cool huh?!” and he said, “yeah, it’s good!”. SCORE! Now if only our future children can enjoy zucchini pasta….

** NOTE: If you are following a low FODMAPs diet look for a tomato sauce that is free of onion and garlic. Or make your own. Zucchini Pasta 7

The meatballs really tasted great, and with the tomato sauce and zucchini pasta, it was the perfect light and refreshing dinner.Zucchini Pasta 8

QUESTION: Have you ever made zucchini pasta? What other vegetables have you used as “pasta”?

Thanks for reading!

The Candid Rd

About author

Articles

Hi, my name is Rebecca Houston and I am a writer. I write about health, healthy food and daily meal plan for various websites.
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