PASTA | COOKING | RECIPE

Turkey Bolognese Sauce That’s Better Than Beef

A Lighter, leaner, and cleaner plate of pasta using a substitute in the classic Italian dish

Photo by Author.

A plate piled with pasta slathered in steaming tomato meat sauce, and a side salad has been a mainstay of Italians and North Americans for generations. Few meals are easier to make and more satisfying to serve and eat, yet many of us are missing out on the depth of flavor from making it in the authentic style of a true Bolognese.

While there is nothing wrong with a simple sauce of browned ground beef and vibrant tomato sauce, following the traditional recipe will add loads of flavor without much more work. Beginning with a few vegetables, a healthy splash of red wine, and some stock elevates this standard fare from good to great.

But what if you find beef too heavy or greasy and, with today’s prices, too expensive? This is where a little experimentation comes into play. Using turkey instead of beef, or even pork, will ease the strain on the wallet and give a leaner, lighter meal but still satisfy carnivorous cravings basted with the tasty tang of tomato sauce.

Adhering to the classic Italian recipe, using stock and red wine to bolster your tomato sauce offers a depth of…