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Italian Meatballs

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 55 minutes

Ingredients
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 cup finely chopped carrots
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 (28-ounce) cans Italian crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
1 pound Laura’s 92% Lean Ground Beef or 96% Lean Ground Round
2 egg whites, beaten
1 (8-ounce) package spaghetti noodles, cooked
Parmesan cheese and fresh basil

Directions
1. Sauté onion, carrots and garlic in olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat 5 minutes or until tender. Add tomatoes and red pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.
2. Combine breadcrumbs and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl; add beef and egg, stirring well. Shape mixture into (2-inch) balls.
3. Place on a rack coated with cooking spray on an aluminum foil-lined broiler pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until meatballs are browned. Place meatballs in sauce and cover and simmer over low heat 30 minutes. Serve over spaghetti and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Cooking Tip: For mozzarella stuffed meatballs, dice (4-ounce) fresh mozzarella into pieces and stuff inside of each meatball. Cook according to above instructions.

Nutritional Analysis Per Serving Based on 8 Servings
Using Laura's 92% Lean Ground Beef
CALORIES 354 (25% from fat); FAT 10g (sat 2.8g); PROTEIN 22g; CARB 48g; FIBER 7.3g; CHOL 33mg; IRON 7.2mg; SODIUM 678mg

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 4 vegetable, 1 fat

Nutritional Analysis Per Serving Based on 8 Servings
Using Laura's 96% Lean Ground Round
CALORIES 344 (20% from fat); FAT 8g (sat 2.3g); PROTEIN 24g; CARB 48g; FIBER 7.3g; CHOL 33mg; IRON 6.3mg; SODIUM 685mg

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 very lean meat, 4 vegetable, 1 fat

Nutritional Analysis Per Serving Based on 8 Servings
Using Laura's 92% Lean Ground Beef
CALORIES 389 (28% from fat); FAT 13g (sat 4.2g); PROTEIN 25g; CARB 49g; FIBER 7.3g; CHOL 41mg; IRON 7.2mg; SODIUM 744mg

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 very lean meat, 2 lean meat, 4 vegetable, 1 fat

Nutritional Analysis Per Serving Based on 8 Servings
Using Laura's 96% Lean Ground Round
CALORIES 380 (24% from fat); FAT 10g (sat 3.4g); PROTEIN 27g; CARB 49g; FIBER 7.3g; CHOL 41mg; IRON 6.4mg; SODIUM 751mg

Diabetic Exchanges: 3 very lean meat, 4 vegetable, 1 fat