Thursday, October 23, 2008

Italian Wedding Pasta

I have not made this yet, but plan to and thought it looked good enough to share!
(it's from a "healthy pasta dishes" list from msn.com)

1 lb. ground turkey
1/4 cup plain dried bread crumbs*
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
1 clove garlic, crushed with a press
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced**
1 large egg
1 cup freshly grated Romano Cheese *+
1 package farfalle pasta (or bow-tie)
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 1/2 cup reduced fat milk
1 14 ounce to 14.5 ounce reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 bag baby spinach *++
ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400, line a baking pan or cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, mix turkey, bread crumbs, parsley, garlic, egg, 1/4 cup Romano cheese with fingertips. Do not over mix. make 36 (!) 1" meatballs and place in lined pan. Bake 20 min.

Meanwhile, cook pasta (al dente), drain, return to pot

Whisk cornstarch into milk. Add that mixture and chicken broth to pasta pot. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Allow to boil 1 minute to thicken sauce, then remove from heat.

Stir in spinach, 1/2 cup Romano cheese, 1/4 tsp. pepper. Add meatballs and gently toss to combine.

Transfer to a 3 quart baking dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 20 minutes.

*Would you ever not use "dried" bread crumbs? Is there a use for wet bread crumbs?
**I see no need for 2 different types of garlic in this recipe. I say, chop 2 cloves and be done with it.
*+Freshly grated? Please. I will use the already grated and be fine with it. Otherwise, change step 1 to: freshly grate some Romano cheese.
*++ I will not be using spinach at all. Feel free to do the same, or be a grown up and add it.

Good luck to this recipe!
I'll follow up with feedback!

erin

No comments: