Mainly Vegetable Turkey Bolognese (Parents: Just Call it Meat Sauce)

/
Bolognese served over spaghetti squash

Bolognese served over spaghetti squash

Introducing a healthy, easy to make, veggie packed dinner that you can make and freeze to have at-the-ready for whenever you need.  Oh did I mention it is jam packed with veggies and your kids won't know at all?!  I call that a winning combination!

With winter comes the desire for hearty meals.  Often times though, hearty meals leave much to be desired on the nutritional front or can take a while to whip up.  Without thinking it can be easy to find yourself in the same rotation of chilis, soups, and pot roasts in the winter.  

We are a busy bunch, late meetings, conference calls, school, work, practices, playdates.  So even though we may crave that hearty meal some days we forget to meal plan, or are just too tired.  That's where this bolognese comes in.

It's super healthy, hearty for these winter months, and a breeze to make and reheats like a beauty if you've frozen a batch (I always do).

But to all those parents out there, lets get down to the best part: does your child not like to eat veggies? does your child like pasta and meat sauce?  Well this has nearly a 1:1 ratio of veggies to turkey meat and that's before you add in the marinara sauce! 

That's a lot of nutrient dense carrots, celery, onions, and mushrooms sautéed, and hiding in this meal simmered down with ground turkey and ... wait for it (good quality) ... store bought marinara (winner winner easy dinner).  All those vegetables just hiding in there, looking like turkey, tasting like turkey, not harming a single toddler.   

Watch in satisfaction as your child eats vegetables.  SAY NOTHING. Enjoy your dinner, too.

 

____________________________________________________

SERVINGS/COOK TIME

4-6 servings / 30 minutes 

INGREDIENTS

IMG_8223.JPG
  • Need: food processor
  • 1/4 onion, roughly chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/4 - 1/2 bag baby carrots chopped in half
  • 4 ribs celery, roughly chopped
  • 6oz sliced mushrooms
  • 1 lb ground meat (I used turkey - you can also use beef)
  • 24oz high quality marinara sauce (I've used Trader Joe's and Victoria White Linen)
  • 1/2 cup vegetable broth
    * Carefully choose your marinara.  I say high quality sauce b/c a brand like Pregu or Ragu will leave you with a watery, bland bolognese.  Choose a flavorful sauce.  Also be aware of your family's spice tolerance some marinaras are spicier than others.
    ** When freezing let it cool and either freeze in Gladware or freeze flat in ziploc bags.

DIRECTIONS

  1. Add onions and garlic to the bowl of a food processor then pulse until minced.
  2. Heat EVOO in a large pot over medium/low heat then add onions and garlic and sauté until softened, 5 minutes.
  3. While onions and garlic sautéing, add carrots, celery, and mushrooms to the bowl of the food processor then pulse until minced.  Add to skillet then turn heat up to medium-medium/high. Sauté until vegetables are tender, 5 minutes.
  4. Add ground beef to skillet and sauté until no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks.
  5. Add marinara sauce and chicken broth and stir to combine, turning the heat down to medium-low
  6. Place a lid on pot and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
  7. Taste and add salt and pepper if necessary.
  8. Serve over whatever you choose - spaghetti, gnocchi, spaghetti squash, with a spoon, whatever gets it done :-)