Wednesday 11 July 2012

Turkey Lasagne


After months of near constant rain, that dragging feeling of a summer lost hit and I knew that a salad would not cut it last night, we needed comfort food.  In the past comfort food would have consisted of a 3" deep beef lasagne smothered in three types of cheese, oozing oil, but a year into Weight Watchers and 4 stone down, I could not bear the thought of undoing all my good work so I thought of a lighter variation, which I think worked rather well and gives you a very generous portion so you feel like you are being naughty when really you are not.

Turkey Lasagne
Serves 2 Approx WW Pro Points per serving 15

500g turkey mince
1 onion, chopped
2 sticks celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 courgette, chunky chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 red pepper, chunky chopped
3 sheets dried lasagne pasta
One cal oil spray
1 tsp mixed herbs, dried
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried chili flakes
1 400g can chopped tomatoes
Squirt of tomato puree
Squirt HP brown sauce

White sauce
30g light soft cheese
1 tbsp grated Parmesan
1 tsp wholegrain mustard
1 tsp corn flour, made up with a drop of water
100ml skimmed milk

Heat a pan and spritz in the oil, slow fry the onion, celery and carrot until soft, add the turkey mince and cook until coloured.  add the garlic, courgette, pepper, herbs, chopped tomatoes, puree and HP and seasoning.  Simmer away for an hour.

To make the white sauce put the soft cheese and milk into a small saucepan and whisk over heat. Add the cornflour mix and keep whisking until thickened, stir in the mustard and half of the Parmesan, add more milk if it gets too thick.

Heat the oven to 190oc.  Take an oven dish and spoon half of the turkey mixture in, pour over half the white sauce.  Lay on the three pasta sheets and top with the rest of the turkey and finish with the white sauce, sprinkle over the remaining Parmesan.  Pop into the oven for 30 minutes.  Serve.


Hearty, warming, decadent and utterly scrumptious.  Going heavy on the herbs and seasoning and by adding a dash of tangy HP really helps pack a punch and liven up boring old turkey.  Just enough pasta to not load up with carbs but feel like you are not missing out and jam packed with veg, next time I would probably reduce the amount of turkey mince used and toss in some quartered mushrooms.