These cold nights in New Jersey have been screaming for a big bowl of pasta. And like the thoughtful cook I am, I obliged. Like any bolognese, this recipe will take a few hours to make. But the results will be amazing and completely worth the effort.
Perfectly savory with that je ne sais quoi, you’ll be going back for seconds. And loving it even more the next day as leftovers. Hubs was a huge fan.
Because of the bit of news I shared in my Bites of Life: Part 6 post, I’ve been trying to eat healthy and well-rounded dishes. Of course there’s always a chance for sweet treats or a juicy burger, but life isn’t worth living unless you indulge!
This turkey bolognese is the Switzerland of recipes. In one corner you have a plate full of spaghetti and fresh parmesan, which isn’t the greatest for you. Then, in the other corner you have hearty ground turkey, slow cooked tomatoes and lots of yummy, fresh ingredients.
In other words, this is a recipe worth repeating.
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium sweet onion, diced
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced (or 10 baby carrots, sliced)
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 can (28 ounces) whole plum tomatoes, with its juice
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Splash of red wine or sherry cooking wine
- Spaghetti
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add the onion, carrot and celery. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the onion is translucent, then add the garlic. Stir and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the ground turkey to the pot and cook until no longer pink, about 10 minutes.
- Add the chicken stock, tomato paste, tomatoes and its juice, bay leaf and salt. Crush the tomatoes with the back of a wooden spoon.
- Reduce heat to a simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour.
- Add the oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes and splash of wine. Simmer until the sauce is thick, about 30 minutes. Taste test and add more salt/pepper to your liking.
- When the bolognese is almost done, cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
Leave a Reply