Pasta Roll-ups with Turkey and Spinach

Here's a good way to sneak some greens into your kids – and time into your schedule! These lasagna-style roll-ups can be made ahead of time and reheated for a quick, easy weeknight meal.

Photo: Yvonne Duivenvoorden

By Diana Burrell

Serves: 8
Hands-on time: 45 minutes
Total time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 lb ground turkey breast
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 28-oz can whole tomatoes in juice
• 1 tsp salt
• 8 sheets dried high-protein or whole-wheat lasagna
• 1 10-oz box frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• 1 15-oz container nonfat ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook another minute. Turn heat to medium-high and add ground turkey, breaking it up with a spatula until meat shows no sign of pink. Stir in cinnamon and nutmeg, then add tomatoes and salt. Reduce heat to medium-low, stir, cover and let simmer for 20 minutes, occasionally stirring and breaking up tomatoes with a wooden spoon.
2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, rinse and allow to cool in a colander.
3. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Squeeze all remaining moisture from thawed spinach and place in large bowl. Add ricotta cheese, egg and a 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese to bowl. Stir until combined
4. Spread 1 cup of cooked tomato sauce into bottom of a 9 x 10-inch casserole dish. Lay a cooked lasagna noodle flat in front of you. Use your fingers to spread 1/8 of ricotta mixture across the noodle and roll it up. Place the rolled pasta seam side down, into the casserole dish. Repeat with remaining noodles. Spread remaining tomato sauce over roll-ups, then top with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella
5. Bake, covered with foil, for 20 minutes. Remove foil and broil for 5 minutes or until roll-ups are browned and bubbly.

Nutrients per serving: Calories: 234, Total Fat: 3 g, Sat. Fat: 0 g, Carbs: 27 g, Fiber: 5 g, Sugars: 7 g, Protein: 28 g, Sodium: 508 mg, Cholesterol: 76 mg

Nutritional Bonus:
One serving of these lasagna-style roll-ups gives you 90 % of your vitamin A requirement and a healthy dose of calcium – 366 milligrams to be precise.

TIP:

Your leftovers need not go to waste when a recipe calls for ground turkey and all you’ve got is breast meat! Cut the turkey into cubes and pulse them in your food processor (just a few pulses is all it takes)
.