Fire Roasted Tomato Soup with Turkey Meatballs

I'm loving this delicious, healthy and little spicy spin on your typical minestrone soup. First, I skip the regular canned tomatoes and use organic fire roasted tomatoes to give this dish an extra kick. Instead of pasta, chick peas do the trick here to add a nice texture and a dose of fiber. Ground turkey is my go to when making meatballs but you can all always substitute with another organic, grass fed meat of your choice. 

INGREDIENTS: (Serves 8)
For the soup: 
2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups vegetable broth
2 cans (14-½ oz each) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 medium zucchini squash, sliced in rounds and halved
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
1 tbsp Healthy On You® Thyme in Tuscany spice blend
​Fresh chopped parsley for garnish

For the Meatballs:
1 lb organic ground turkey, very cold
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, more as needed
¼ cup minced onion
2 garlic cloves, minced through a garlic press
½ cup dried bread crumbs (GF option)
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, more for serving (optional)
1  large egg, beaten
1½ tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper
Pinch red pepper flakes
1 tbsp Healthy On You® Thyme in Tuscany spice blend

PREPARATION:
Make the soup:

1. In a soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add in the onions and cook until translucent, about 3 mins.
2. Add the garlic to the onions and sauté for another minute
3. Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, carrot and the Thyme in Tuscany spice blend. Cook, covered, on low for 30 mins. or until vegetables are tender.
4. Add the zucchini and simmer for an additional when you add the cooked meatballs (see #3 below)

Make the Meatballs:

1. In a large bowl, combine cheese, bread crumbs, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, Thyme in Tuscany spice blend and red pepper flakes and mix well. Add the ground turkey and egg and blend with your hands until well mixed. Cover mixture and chill for an hour or up to 24 hours. Shape and roll to the desired size.
2. Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large sauté pan. When hot, add enough of the meatballs to fit in one layer without crowding, and brown on all sides, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate, add another tablespoon of oil to pan and brown another layer of meatballs, transferring them to the plate as they brown. Repeat until all meatballs are browned, adding more oil to the pan as needed.
   
3. Add the meatballs and the chopped zucchini to the soup and cook for another 10 mins.
   
4. Serve in bowls garnished with parmesan and fresh chopped parsley

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