Tag Archives: smoked paprika

Italian Meatballs with Smoky Tomato Sauce

I’m not really a big meat-eating person but I do love a turkey burger or turkey meatballs sometimes. These Italian Meatballs with Smoky Tomato Sauce not only have ground turkey but they also have turkey sausage to add a little flavor. Mixed with egg, garlic, and parmesan cheese, these meatballs can be made quickly and include one of my favorite spices – smoked paprika! Personally, I would have preferred if there was a little more sausage in the mix but overall, I thought these meatballs were very tasty. The tomato sauce also has smoked paprika and was a hearty, albeit garlicky, sauce. I cut this recipe in half because I wasn’t looking to feed an army here and I still didn’t put in as much garlic as the recipe calls for. These meatballs would make great appetizers for your next get-together – or maybe a nice topping to some whole wheat pasta!

The meatball ingredients:

In a bowl, mix together egg, garlic, bread crumbs, cheese, salt, and pepper.

Add in ground turkey and sweet turkey sausage. Mix until just combined.

Roll mixture into balls and lay on a baking sheet. Combine olive oil and smoked paprika and brush on each meatball. Bake at 400°F for 25 minutes.

The sauce ingredients:

In a large saucepan, heat onion, garlic, basil, and oregano in olive oil until onion is tender.

Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Cover and allow sauce to simmer for 20 minutes.

Top meatballs with sauce or serve it on the side. Add more grated parmesan if you desire.

Additions: None

Omissions: None

Substitutions: None

Overall Rating: Like It

Source: Better Homes & Gardens Magazine

Cheesy Turkey Meat Loaf

I remember when my mom would say we were having meat loaf for dinner, I’d frown and be disappointed, yet I’d eat it like I was supposed to. When I think about it though, other than hamburgers, I wasn’t really a big beef person. I’d much rather have chicken, ham, or pasta than a steak on any given day. I haven’t eaten beef in about twenty years so I’m pretty used to substituting ground turkey in recipes. This recipe for Cheesy Turkey Meat Loaf is slightly adapted from the original recipe which called for ground sirloin and is made into individual portions. Ground turkey has a tendency to become dry so I was a little worried that straight up using it in place of the sirloin wouldn’t be enough to save this meat loaf from heading to dry city. Boy, was I wrong! This meat loaf was so moist, juicy, and flavorful that I couldn’t stop eating it! I added smoked paprika (one of my favorite new spices) to the ketchup on top of the meat loaf and I’m so glad I did. Instead of cubed cheese, I used shredded cheese because it was what I had on hand but I didn’t really notice it much, not that it mattered. This meat loaf is loaded with flavor and this recipe is a keeper.

The ingredients:

In a pan coated with cooking spray, cook onion and garlic until soft.

Add cooked onions and garlic to a bowl with ground turkey and all other ingredients except for half of the ketchup. Mix ingredients together with your hands, careful not to overmix.

Place turkey mixture into a loaf pan or shape into individual loaves as per the recipe. Pour remaining ketchup (mixed with 1 teaspoon smoked paprika if you like) over the turkey.

Bake in a 425°F oven until a meat thermometer reads 165° or 170° (about 45 minutes).

Additions:

Smoked paprika

Omissions: None

Substitutions:

93% Lean ground turkey
Shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
Panko for fresh bread crumbs

Overall Rating: Love It

Source: Cooking Light Magazine

Chickpeas and Spinach with Smoky Paprika

I wasn’t too sure if I’d like this dish at first but the former-vegetarian in me couldn’t resist trying it. I’m still not sure if this is an appetizer, a stew, or a light dinner but I think it’s safe to say it could be all of the above. I ate it with grilled sourdough bread (left over from the Panini with Chocolate and Brie) and I must say it’s a very tasty little bite. There are many ingredients in this dish with big flavors – garlic, onions, fire-roasted tomatoes, parsley – but the real star of this show is the smoked paprika. If you’ve never tried it before – go get some! Regular paprika just doesn’t compare. I was pleasantly surprised with this dish and at only 86 calories for a 2/3 cup serving, I didn’t feel guilty having 2 servings.