Bell Pepper and Tomato Penne with Meatballs

Prep Time: 0 Minutes

Cook Time: 0 Minutes

Ready In: 0 Minutes

Servings: 4

This recipe illustrates how layering salt throughout cooking brings all the flavors of a dish together. The pasta cooks in salted water. The sauce gets seasoned at a couple of steps along the way-first to enhance the flavor of the onion and bell peppers, and later to tame the sharpness of the tomatoes and vinegar.

Ingredients:

1 (3/4-ounce) slice firm white bread (such as pepperidge farm)

1/3 cup minced fresh onion

1/4 cup finely chopped cremini mushrooms

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons grated fresh parmesan cheese

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 large egg yolk

1/2 pound lean ground turkey

cooking spray

2 teaspoons olive oil

3/4 cup chopped onion

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1/2 cup julienne-cut yellow bell pepper

1/2 cup julienne-cut orange bell pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt, divided

3 cups chopped seeded plum tomato (about 2 pounds)

1/2 cup tomato juice

1/4 cup quartered pitted kalamata olives

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil

1/8 teaspoon salt

8 ounces uncooked penne (about 2 cups tube-shaped pasta)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. To prepare meatballs, place bread in a food processor; pulse 10 times or until fine crumbs measure 1/2 cup. Combine breadcrumbs, 1/3 cup onion, and next 8 ingredients (1/3 cup onion through turkey); stir well to combine. Lightly coat hands with cooking spray. Shape turkey mixture into 20 (1-inch) meatballs. Place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 12 minutes or until done; cover and keep warm.
3. To prepare sauce, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3/4 cup onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add bell peppers and 1/4 teaspoon salt; sauté 2 minutes. Add tomato and next 6 ingredients (tomato through black pepper); bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 13 minutes or until sauce thickens. Stir in basil and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add meatballs; stir to coat.
4. To prepare pasta, while sauce cooks, bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in a large saucepan; add 1/8 teaspoon salt and pasta. Cook 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Serve meatball mixture over pasta.

By RecipeOfHealth.com