Penne with Turkey Tomato Ragu

By Marge Perry & David Bonom

A healthier version of a classic tomato meat ragu over pasta, this is made with lean ground turkey given smoky depth with just a little bacon

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    INGREDIENTS

    • 12 ounces penne pasta
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 4 slices bacon, chopped
    • 12 ounces lean ground turkey
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • 1 medium onion, chopped
    • 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
    • 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
    • 1/4 cup tomato paste
    • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus additional for serving
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

    DIRECTIONS

    1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions; drain.
    2. Heat the oil in an Anolon Tri-Ply Clad Sauté over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crisp, 7-8 minutes. Stir in the turkey and basil; cook, breaking turkey into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon, until lightly browned, about 7-8 minutes. Stir in onion, carrot, celery, and garlic, cook until vegetables are somewhat softened, 5-6 minutes. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste; bring to a simmer and immediately reduce heat to medium; gently simmer 10 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat, stir in cheese, pepper and parsley and serve over penne. Top with additional cheese if desired.