Meatballs come in a variety of flavors, but a classic and easy Italian meatball is comfort food- so I thought I would share one of my favorite Italian recipes, cooked by my Jewish father.
Italian food gets a bad rep for being loaded with carbohydrates and fatty foods, but there are small adjustments you can make in each recipe that allow you to enjoy a hearty Italian classic, while still maintaining a health conscious lifestyle.

Rather than serving meatballs over white pasta, try a whole wheat penne or spaghetti. With the added sauce and meat, even the most dedicated pasta lover won't be able to tell the difference!

Pair with roasted brussel sprouts, grilled asparagus or green bean almondine for a quick, cheap, and balanced dinner that can satisfy a houseful of guests or provide you with meals for a week! 

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 40 minutes

Yield: 16-20 meatballs

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of 80% lean ground beef

  • Substitute with ground turkey meat for a lighter choice

• Olive Oil (enough to coat the bottom of your frying pan)

• 2 eggs, lightly beaten

• About 1/2 cup of seasoned bread crumbs

  • Choose whole grain for a carb conscious meal!

• 2 large cloves of garlic, minced (or 2 tablespoons of garlic powder)

• 1 extra clove of garlic for oil (set aside)

•  2 tablespoons of minced Parsley

• 2 tablespoons of Oregano

• 2 tablespoons of Basil

• Ground black pepper

• Pinch of salt

• Optional: Shredded parmesan and chopped parsley for garnish

Recipe

Place tomato sauce on simmer prior to beginning. Stay tuned for my homemade tomato sauce recipe! If you are short on time, you can use jarred tomato or marinara sauce. Barillo and Prego both have traditional sauces that taste great and are under $4! 

1. Add your choice of ground meat, eggs, breadcrumbs, 2 cloves of garlic (or garlic powder), parsley, oregano, basil, pepper to taste, and a pinch of salt to a large mixing bowl.

2. Knead the mixture until the ingredients are mixed through and form a cohesive mix.

3. Cover the bottom of a large frying pan in olive oil, add the extra clove of chopped garlic, and heat on medium. Careful not to burn the garlic, if you see it beginning brown turn down the heat.

4. Once the oil is hot, roll the meat into 1 1/2 - 2 inch balls and place gently in the pot. Careful not to splatted the oil here!

5. Using a wooden spoon turn the meatballs until they have browned entirely.

6. Remove from oil and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.

7. Finally, place the meatballs in sauce and allow to simmer for 30 minutes. This allows meatballs to cook through entirely.

8. Add garnish and serve over your favorite pasta!

**If you are in a rush for time, turn down the heat on the oil and cook the meatballs through in the pan entirely. Then add sauce and you are good to go!

Healthy alternative to frying?

1. Heat your oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.

2. Use a light cooking or vegetable spray to coat a cooking sheet.

3. Once you have rolled the meatballs, place on the baking sheet and cook for about 10 minutes, or until  cooked through the center.

**Cut one of the meatballs in half and make sure there is little to no pink in the center. Save the medium rare for a hearty burger!