Maple_turkey_meatballs

Maple Turkey Meatballs Stuffed with Cheese


Main Courses | Turkey

Where to Buy
Portions: 8

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • Vegetable oil (for the baking sheet)
  • 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup from Canada
  • 1 onion, minced
  • 2 garlic cloves, thinly minced
  • 1/4 tsp crushed hot pepper flakes, or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp ground fennel seeds
  • 2 lb. ground turkey meat
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 5 oz. Alfred Le Fermier cheese or other kind, diced in 8 cubes

Maple tomato sauce

  • 1 garlic clove, lightly crushed
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup from Canada
  • 4 cups canned ground tomatoes
  • Salt and ground pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, finely chopped

Method

Meatballs

  1. Preheat oven to 450° F.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and brush with oil. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients for the meatballs, except the cheese.
  4. Shape the meat mixture in 8 large balls and press a cube of cheese into the center of each.
  5. Transfer to the baking sheet and cook for 5 minutes.
  6. Reduce the oven temperature to 350° F. Continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes.

Maple tomato sauce

  1. Meanwhile, prepare the tomato sauce.
  2. Using a pan suitable for the oven, brown the garlic in the oil over the stove.
  3. Add pure maple syrup and tomatoes. Cook for about 5 minutes or until sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Add the meatballs and basil, and bake in the oven for 35 minutes at 350° F.
Advice from Maple experts

Note:
These meatballs can be prepared one day ahead. It is also possible to cook them completely up to one month ahead and to freeze them. Heat unthawed in the oven for 1 hour 30 minutes at 350°F.