The
Daily
Fix
Rest
Turkey Ricotta Meatballs with Garlic Herb Marinara
Role of advanced glycation end products in cardiovascular disease
Rest day
Turkey meatballs enriched with creamy ricotta and extra cheese, served over buttery zucchini ribbons, and topped with a rich garlic herb marinara sauce.
AGEs form under hyperglycemic conditions like diabetes.
Enjoy the recovery time, or make-up anything you missed from last week.
Ingredients
8 oz ground turkey
⅓ cup whole milk ricotta cheese
1 egg
3 Tbsp grated Parmesan
¼ cup almond flour
1 Tbsp heavy cream
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp dried basil
¼ tsp salt
2 Tbsp tallow (1 Tbsp for meatballs, 1 Tbsp for zucchini)
1 cup zucchini ribbons or spiralized zucchini
2 Tbsp butter (for zucchini)
Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Garlic Herb Marinara:
½ cup tomato sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
2–3 fresh basil leaves, torn
½ tsp dried oregano
2 Tbsp olive oil (1 Tbsp stirred into sauce, 1 Tbsp for drizzling on top)
2 Tbsp heavy cream (to enrich the sauce)
Macronutrients
Protein: 52g
Fat: 60g
Carbs: 9g
Preparation
In a bowl, combine ground turkey (8 oz), ricotta cheese (⅓ cup), egg (1), Parmesan (3 Tbsp), almond flour (¼ cup), heavy cream (1 Tbsp), garlic powder (½ tsp), dried basil (½ tsp), and salt (¼ tsp). Mix gently until just combined—do not overmix. Form the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs (about 8–10 meatballs).
Heat tallow (1 Tbsp) in a skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook 4–5 minutes per side, turning gently, until browned and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F). Remove and set aside.
In the same skillet, add tallow (1 Tbsp) and butter (2 Tbsp). Sauté zucchini ribbons (1 cup) over medium heat for 2–3 minutes until tender and lightly golden. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
In a small saucepan, combine tomato sauce (½ cup), minced garlic (1 clove), dried oregano (½ tsp), and torn basil leaves (2–3 leaves). Stir in heavy cream (2 Tbsp) and olive oil (1 Tbsp) without heating it so it blends into the sauce. Simmer over low heat for 3–4 minutes until warmed through and slightly thickened.
To assemble, place sautéed zucchini ribbons in a bowl, top with turkey ricotta meatballs, and spoon over the warm garlic herb marinara. Drizzle extra olive oil (1 Tbsp) over everything before serving.
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) form through non‑enzymatic glycation and oxidation of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, especially under hyperglycemic conditions like diabetes. AGEs promote cardiovascular disease by cross-linking extracellular matrix proteins—such as collagen and elastin—altering tissue structure and increasing stiffness, while also activating their cell-surface receptor RAGE to trigger intracellular signaling pathways (e.g. p21^ras, MAPK, NF‑κB). This leads to inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, reduced NO availability, and upregulation of adhesion molecules and cytokines, all of which contribute to atherosclerosis, vascular stiffening, and heart failure. Clinical correlations show higher serum AGE levels associated with severity of heart failure, and early studies suggest that interventions targeting AGE formation or AGE–RAGE signaling may hold therapeutic promise.
SUNDAY 250803