Pasta Bolognese

Ground turkey simmered in a homemade tomato sauce over chickpea pasta. Makes 4.

  • Have some energy
  • Gluten-free
  • Italian
  • Dinner
  • Turkey
  • High protein
  • High fiber
  • Meal prep
Hands-on
22 min
Total time
55 min, show breakdown
  • Prep 12 min
  • Cook 35 min
  • Clean up 8 min
Pans
2
Ingredients
11
Cost/serving
$3.43

Per serving

Calories
503
Protein
38 g
Fiber
10 g
Net carbs
45 g
Fat
18 g

High in (% Daily Value per serving): Niacin (B3) 64%, Vitamin B6 64%, Vitamin B12 59%, Selenium 52%, Zinc 44%, Thiamin (B1) 41%, Folate 40%, Iron 39%, Riboflavin (B2) 39%, Potassium 32%, Magnesium 31%, Vitamin C 27%, Vitamin E 26%, Vitamin A 21%

Full nutrition facts, vitamins and minerals. All nutrition is estimated; check your own labels.

Already egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free.

Ingredients for 4

Tap an ingredient for other units and forms.

  • 450 g ground turkey, 93% lean

    Same amount as: 15¾ oz.

  • 220 g chickpea pasta, dry

    Same amount as: 8 oz.

  • 1 can canned crushed tomatoes (794 g)

    Same amount as: about 3¼ cups.

  • 1 medium onion (110 g)
  • 1 medium carrot (60 g)
  • 1 stalk celery (40 g)
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed (9 g)

    Same amount as: 3 tsp fresh minced garlic, 1½ tsp jarred minced garlic, ⅜ tsp garlic powder.

  • 2 tbsp tomato paste (32 g)

    Same amount as: 30 mL.

  • 1 tsp dried oregano (1 g)

    Same amount as: 5 mL.

  • 1 tbsp olive oil (14 g)

    Same amount as: 15 mL.

  • 4 tbsp parmesan, grated (20 g), grated, to serve

    Same amount as: 60 mL.

  • salt, to taste
  • black pepper, to taste

Find alternative ingredients

Quantities are for 4 servings. The sauce keeps 4 days in the fridge and freezes well. Cook the pasta fresh each time.

Nutrition Facts

4 servings per recipe

Serving size 1 plate (439 g raw)

NutrientPer serving% DV*Whole recipe
Calories503
Total fat18 g23%
Saturated fat4.2 g21%
Cholesterol87 mg29%
Sodium740 mg32%
Total carbohydrate55 g20%
Dietary fiber10 g37%
Total sugars15 g
Net carbs†45 g
Protein38 g77%
Vitamin D0.36 mcg2%
Calcium210 mg16%
Iron7.1 mg39%
Potassium1,494 mg32%
Vitamin A190 mcg21%
Vitamin C24 mg27%
Vitamin E3.9 mg26%
Vitamin K18 mcg15%
Thiamin (B1)0.49 mg41%
Riboflavin (B2)0.51 mg39%
Niacin (B3)10 mg64%
Vitamin B61.1 mg64%
Folate160 mcg40%
Vitamin B121.4 mcg59%
Magnesium131 mg31%
Zinc4.8 mg44%
Selenium29 mcg52%

Estimated, not verified. These numbers are calculated from typical ingredient data and haven't been checked against a lab or your brands. Check the labels of what you buy and confirm anything that matters to you, especially sodium, sugar and allergens.

* % Daily Value shows how much one serving adds to a 2,000-calorie day. † Net carbs is not on US labels; it is total carbs minus fiber, allulose, erythritol and half of other sugar alcohols. "To taste" amounts are counted as written. Counted items (eggs, cloves, spoons) use the rounded amount shown in the ingredient list. Vitamins and minerals are from raw ingredients; cooking lowers some, especially vitamin C and folate. How this is calculated.

Steps

  1. Dice the onion, carrot and celery small, about 5 mm (¼ in). Mince the garlic.

  2. Heat the oil in the skillet on medium. Add the onion, carrot and celery with a pinch of salt. Cook 8 minutes, stirring now and then.

    Done looks like: Onion soft and see-through, carrot starting to soften.
  3. Turn the heat to medium-high. Add the turkey and break it into small crumbs with the spatula. Cook 6–7 minutes.

    Done looks like: No pink left, and some brown bits on the bottom of the pan. 74 °C / 165 °F if you check.
  4. Stir in the garlic, tomato paste and oregano. Cook 1 minute until the paste darkens.

  5. Add the crushed tomatoes. Bring to a bubble, then turn to low. Simmer 20 minutes uncovered, stirring every 5 minutes.

    Done looks like: Sauce thick enough that a spoon dragged through leaves a gap for a second.
  6. While it simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta 1 minute less than the packet says. Scoop out ½ cup of the water, then drain.

    Done looks like: Pasta tender with a slight bite in the middle.
  7. Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper. Toss the pasta in the sauce with a splash of pasta water. Serve with parmesan.

Equipment

Large frying pan or skillet, 30 cm (12 in) $25–60

What to look for

  • Wide flat base so food cooks in one layer
  • Stainless steel or cast iron for high heat

Skip: Woks on flat electric stoves; they do not heat evenly there.

Large pot or Dutch oven, 5 L (5 qt) $30–80

What to look for

  • Heavy base so soups and chili do not scorch
  • Lid that fits

Skip: Enameled cast iron is lovely but not needed. A heavy stainless pot works.

Chef's knife, 20 cm (8 in) $15–50

What to look for

  • Comfortable handle that does not slip when wet
  • Blade you can sharpen, or a cheap one you replace every few years

Skip: Knife blocks with 12 knives. A chef's knife and a small paring knife cover almost everything.

Cutting board $10–30

What to look for

  • At least 30 × 40 cm (12 × 16 in), so food stays on it
  • Wood or plastic; plastic goes in the dishwasher

Skip: Glass or stone boards. They dull knives fast.

Silicone spatula $5–12

What to look for

  • One-piece (no seam where the head meets the handle)
  • Stiff enough to scrape, safe on non-stick

Skip: Wooden spatulas for non-stick pans; they work but do not scrape as cleanly.

What goes wrong

WhatCauseFix
Pasta breaks up and turns mushyChickpea pasta overcooks faster than wheat pasta.Start tasting 2 minutes before the packet time. Drain it the moment it has a slight bite.
Sauce thin and wateryNot simmered long enough, or the lid was on.Simmer uncovered 5–10 minutes more.
Grey, rubbery turkeyHeat too low, so the meat steams.Use medium-high and leave the meat alone for a minute between stirs so it browns.

Versions

VersionChangesPer serving
OriginalAs written. Hands-on 22 min, total 55 min.503 kcal
38 g protein
10 g fiber
45 g net carbs
18 g fat
Dairy-freeNo parmesan. Hands-on 22 min, total 55 min.483 kcal
37 g protein
10 g fiber
45 g net carbs
16 g fat

Notes

Allergies: removing an allergen from the recipe does not remove it from your kitchen or from other products. Check labels for "may contain" warnings.

Pregnancy: Cook the turkey to 74 °C / 165 °F. Use parmesan made from pasteurized milk, or skip it.