Description
This Creamy Turkey Bolognese with Cottage Cheese is a lighter, protein-packed alternative to traditional pasta sauces. Combining lean turkey with creamy cottage cheese, it delivers a rich, satisfying dish that’s perfect for a healthy, quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
-
Cook the Vegetables:
- Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat.
- Add onion and sauté for about 5 minutes, until translucent.
- Add garlic and crushed red pepper (if using), and sauté for another 2-3 minutes.
-
Cook the Turkey:
- Add ground turkey to the pan, season with salt and pepper.
- Cook for about 5-7 minutes, until browned and cooked through.
-
Prepare the Cottage Cheese Sauce:
- In a blender, combine cottage cheese and marinara sauce, and blend until smooth.
-
Combine & Simmer:
- Pour the cottage cheese sauce over the turkey.
- Stir in Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese.
- Simmer for 5-10 minutes, until heated through.
-
Serve:
- Serve over your choice of pasta, zucchini noodles, or roasted spaghetti squash.
- Garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Meat Options: You can substitute ground chicken, lean beef, or bison for the turkey.
- Cottage Cheese: Adjust the richness of the sauce by using full-fat, low-fat, or fat-free cottage cheese.
- Spice Levels: Omit crushed red pepper for a milder dish.
- Meal Prep: This sauce works wonderfully for meal prep and tastes even better the next day.
- Freezing: The sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Sautéing, Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
