Italian Turkey "Poppers" with Marinara Dipping Sauce

These delicious turkey meatballs are so easy to make and are fun to pop into your mouth!  Sometimes eating a food in a different way makes it more interesting.  By using the marinara as a dipping sauce, instead of pouring it on top, I can better control the amount I eat to keep the carb count down.  Another reason I enjoy eating them this way is that I don't miss the pasta.  The meatballs become the star of this meal.  The addition of turmeric and chopped spinach makes them extra healthy and it's a great way to sneak another serving of vegetables into the picky eater of your family.  These "poppers" would make a wonderful appetizer for game day, a potluck or party, too!

Italian Turkey "Poppers" with Marinara Dipping Sauce

Makes 4 servings

1 pound ground turkey

1 cup finely chopped frozen spinach, thawed

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

3/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1-1/3 cup marinara sauce, no sugar added

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the ground turkey, spinach, garlic, seasoning, salt, pepper and tomato paste. Heat the coconut oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat.  Use a small cookie scoop or drop 24 rounded tablespoon-size meatballs into the heated pan and sauté on all sides until cooked through.  Meanwhile heat the marinara sauce in a saucepan over medium-low heat.  Serve the meatballs with the marinara as a dipping sauce.

Saute meatballs in a heated skillet.

Nutritional Information per 6 meatballs and 1/3 cup sauce: 297 calories, 8.5 g total carbohydrate (2.5 g dietary fiber, 3.8 g sugar), 18.4 g total fat (5.3 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 88 mg cholesterol, 889 mg sodium, 126.5 mg calcium, 300 mg potassium, 22.8 g protein.  Net carbs per serving: 6 grams

Recipe by Kathryn Sheehan, copyright 2016