Description
Hearty “turkey lasagna” brings comfort from Italian kitchens straight to your dinner table. Layers of lean ground turkey, creamy ricotta, and rich marinara create a satisfying meal perfect for family gatherings and weekend celebrations you’ll savor bite after delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 500g (1 lb) ground turkey
- 8 lasagna sheets
- 250g ricotta cheese
- 1 tin chopped tomatoes
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 onion
- 1 carrot
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 cup frozen spinach, thawed
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 cup chicken stock/broth
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 30g (2 tablespoons) butter
- 1 tablespoon plain flour
- 250ml (1 cup) milk
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 50g (1/4 cup) grated Cheddar cheese
- 50g (1/4 cup) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon oil
Instructions
- Warm the oven to the appropriate temperature and lightly grease a rectangular ceramic baking vessel for optimal lasagna preparation.
- In a heavy-bottomed skillet, gently sauté finely diced onions, shredded carrots, and minced garlic in fragrant olive oil until vegetables become translucent and aromatic.
- Introduce ground turkey into the vegetable mixture, breaking it into small crumbles and cooking until the meat transforms from pink to a rich golden-brown color.
- Pour chopped tomatoes into the skillet, complementing with savory chicken stock, and season with salt, freshly cracked pepper, and aromatic bay leaves. Allow the mixture to simmer and reduce, developing deep, complex flavors.
- Prepare a velvety white sauce by melting butter in a separate pan, whisking in flour to create a smooth roux, then gradually incorporating milk until achieving a silky consistency. Enhance with a touch of Dijon mustard and adjust seasoning.
- Mix ricotta cheese with thoroughly drained and chopped spinach, creating a creamy green-flecked filling.
- Construct lasagna layers strategically: spread a base of meat sauce, layer delicate pasta sheets, distribute ricotta-spinach mixture, and drizzle white sauce, repeating until dish is generously filled.
- Crown the lasagna with a generous sprinkle of sharp cheddar and nutty Parmesan cheese.
- Transfer to preheated oven and bake until the top turns golden and edges become delightfully crispy, with sauce bubbling invitingly around the edges.
Notes
- Replace ground turkey with plant-based crumbles for a vegetarian version that maintains the protein-rich profile of the original dish.
- Swap whole milk for low-fat or almond milk to reduce overall calorie content while keeping the creamy white sauce texture.
- Add extra herbs like fresh basil or oregano to the meat sauce for enhanced flavor complexity and aromatic depth.
- Incorporate grated zucchini or finely chopped mushrooms into the turkey mixture to boost vegetable content and create a more nutritious lasagna.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg