I didn’t realize until posting this recipe that I accidentally doubled the turkey from the original recipe. I wondered why my meatballs seemed a little large! Oh well, they are still good for you – packed with spinach, oats, and yogurt. If you want the ratio of healthiness per bite to be higher then use 1/2 lb turkey (but of course it will serve less people).

They are not the most photogenic meatballs, but they are super moist and full of flavor. I also enjoyed the chunkier style of the sauce as a change from the pureed pasta sauce. Even though I’m typically not a fan of chunky sauce, it was perfect for this dish. And this is a one-pot meal! Hooray for less dishes to wash!

OATMEAL MEATBALLS WITH SPINACH

Makes 16 large meatballs (Serves 6-8)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup instant oats

1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1/2 cup packed baby spinach, thinly sliced

1/4 cup packed basil, chopped, plus 1 sprig

1/4 cup grated Parmesan

1 egg white

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped, divided

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 lb all-white-meat ground turkey

Olive oil cooking spray

1 can (26 oz) diced tomatoes, plus juice

1/2 cup dry white wine

1-13.25 oz box whole-wheat pasta, cooked according to the package instructions (I used penne)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix oats and yogurt with 1/4 cup water in a bowl until oats begin to absorb liquid. Add spinach, basil, Parmesan, egg white, half the garlic, salt and pepper, and stir. Add turkey and mix until well combined. Form into 16 large meatballs.
2. Coat a large, oven-safe stockpot with cooking spray. Add meatballs and bake until they begin to brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Turn and bake 10 minutes more. Add remaining garlic, basil sprig, tomatoes and wine. Cover and cook until meatballs are cooked through and sauce begins to thicken, 20 minutes. Serve immediately with pasta.

Source: Slightly adapted from SELF Magazine