I was inspired to make this Turkey Bolognese sauce for two reasons:

1. My husband Dave praises me endlessly every time I make a more “hearty” dinner. He says it just “feels right” with the cold weather and all. And what can I say, I’m a sucker for the compliments! 
2. Saying that I made a bolognese sounds kind of impressive, no?

So maybe those aren’t the most honorable reasons for making a dish, but I think in the end all that matters is that it made for a delicious dinner!

The next time you’re in the mood for a substantial – but still healthy – pasta dish, try this recipe! Here’s how I made my Turkey Bolognese sauce.

First I sautéed onion, garlic, and carrots in a bit of olive oil. Then I added lean ground turkey, breaking up the meat until it was no longer pink.

Once the turkey was browned, I added some dry red wine, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce to the pan. Then I seasoned it generously with oregano, basil, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper.

Then I busied myself with laundry, dishes, and other such tasks while the sauce simmered away for 1.5 hours. You want it to get nice and thick.

This sauce made a delicious topper for whole wheat spaghetti.

Turkey Bolognese
Serves 3-4, depending on how much sauce you like on your pasta
Adapted from Healthy Food For Living

Ingredients
1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
3/4 lb. lean ground turkey
1/4 cup dry red wine
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1/2 tsp ground oregano
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
salt and ground black pepper, to taste

1. Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and chopped carrot and sauté for another 5 minutes.

2. Raise the heat to medium high. Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking up the meat, until no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Pour the wine into the skillet to deglaze, then add the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce.

3. Add the seasonings, reduce heat to low, and simmer until the bolognese is thick and reduced, about 1.5 hours. Add additional seasonings to taste throughout the cooking process.

4. Serve over your favorite pasta and/or with thick, crusty bread.