Spagetti Squash and Stuffed Meatballs

If you love pasta but don't love the calories this one is for you! Spagetti squash is simply delicious and easy to prepare. This recipe has far less fat, carbs and  calories than traditional spagetti and meatballs. I think it tastes much better too, bonus! Fresh herbs, as always make a big difference in how wonderful and fresh this tastes. Again, growing just a few herbs in your backyard, patio or kitchen will make a world of difference in your recipes. I throw them in almost everything.

You will need:

1 lb. lean ground turkey

1 small yellow onion, chopped

1 egg white

1 cup (5 oz.) of formed mozzerella (for stuffing meatballs)

1/4 cup whole wheat bread crumbs ( 1 slice stale bread)

1/4 cup fresh, chopped parsley

1/4 cup fresh, chopped basil

1/4 cup fresh, chopped oregano

1 tsp EVOO

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped (optional, adds great flavor)

1 - 32 oz. can crushed tomatoes

1 medium spagetti squash

Putting it all together:

Preheat oven to 400°. Cut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Place face up in a deep baking dish with 1 cup of water. Bake for about 30-40 minutes until a fork easily scrapes squash into "strings".

Meanwhile, to prepare meatballs, combine turkey, onion, garlic, parsley, bread crumbs, egg white and sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl. Scoop a spoonful size into your hand and push a small, 1 inch piece of chopped mozzarella into center of ball, form meat around cheese. Continue with all of the mixture placing them on a baking sheet. Bake at 400° for about 8-10 minutes.

While making meatballs combing crushed tomatoes, basil and oregano in a medium saucepan. Cook covered over med-low heat. (don't use jarred pasta sauce, they contain a ton of sugar and usually preservative/additives).

I let my squash rest a bit while the meatballs are cooking so it is easier to scrape out the flesh. Use a large fork and scrape the meat of the squash onto a large serving plate. It will look like spaghetti noodles, hence the name. ;-)

Serve meatballs and sauce on top of spaghetti squash. Sprinkle with more herbs and Pecorino cheese if you wish.

Serve with a big salad or green veggies to complete the meal.

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Calories: 342
Fat: 23
Carbs: 16
Protein: 22
Sodium: 915
Sugar: 4
Cholesterol: 126