Description
A delicious pasta dish that combines creamy cottage cheese with lean ground turkey and vibrant vegetables, packed with protein for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz pasta (rotini or penne)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup onion, diced (120 grams)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground turkey (93/7 lean)
- 2 cups red bell pepper, diced (220 grams, about 2 medium peppers)
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 3 cups spinach, packed and chopped (90 grams)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups pasta sauce (marinara)
- 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
- Fresh basil, for topping
- Grated parmesan cheese, for topping
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil and cook pasta according to package directions until al dente, usually 8-10 minutes. Before draining, reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water.
- While the pasta cooks, dice the onion, mince the garlic, dice the bell pepper, and chop the spinach.
- Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add diced onions with a pinch of salt and pepper, and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add ground turkey to the pan, breaking it up and sauté for 3-4 minutes until mostly cooked through. Stir in diced bell peppers, dried basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking for 4-5 minutes until peppers have softened.
- Add chopped spinach to the pan and stir to combine. Cook for 1-2 minutes until wilted.
- Blend marinara sauce and cottage cheese in a blender for 30-45 seconds until smooth. Pour the creamy sauce over the turkey and vegetables.
- Add drained pasta and reserved pasta water, tossing everything together over low heat for 1-2 minutes until well-coated and warmed through.
- Top with fresh basil and grated parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
Notes
For storage, let the pasta cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 80mg