Bob’s Farm to Table: I love Bolognese sauce. Our version of this classic Italian meat sauce swaps healthful ground turkey in place of beef and produces unexpectedly bold flavors and a tender, silky texture. Starting the sauce with chopped carrots adds sweetness and earthiness to complement the tomatoes and the meat. This sauce is sure to become a family favorite! Serve over spaghetti, ziti, or penne pasta (each about 100 calories per ½ cup cooked).
Ground Turkey Bolognese
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: The Perfect Portion
Recipe type: Everyday Meals
Makes: 6 Dinner portions
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound (93%) lean ground turkey
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- ½ cup finely chopped carrot
- ¼ cup finely diced celery
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 3 ounces (½ can) tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Directions
- Heat the olive oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat.
- Brown the ground turkey until fully cooked. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes, just until carrot begins to soften.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, tomato paste, basil, sugar, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to the pot, and stir to combine.
- Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 45 minutes.
- Remove the cover, and simmer for an additional 10 minutes (to allow the sauce to slightly thicken) before serving.
HELPFUL TIP: Italian-seasoned ground turkey works great in this sauce, adding the fennel flavor you get in Italian sausage.
Serving size: ½ cup Calories: 100
