Frugal Foodie Friday - Lemony Turkey Bolognese

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...A sale on ground turkey at a local warehouse store practically guaranteed it would appear in at least one Frugal Friday post. Tonight is the night. I've been looking for a calorically kind white pasta sauce, and when I found this recipe on Oprah's website, I knew I'd have to give it a try. The sauce is easy to make and comes together very quickly, though I must say the finished pasta bears no resemblance to the photo that accompanied the original recipe. My sauce  remained white and never picked up the red hue shown in their photo. That being said, this is a nice recipe and if you are looking for a new way to sauce your pasta, do give this version a try. If you enjoy the flavors of bacon and lemon, I think you'll enjoy this dish. While it falls short of being memorable, it makes a nice family meal and it is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.  Do give it a try. Here's the recipe.

Lemony Turkey Bolognese...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite inspired by Kathy Brennan and Caroline at Oprah.com

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 ounces bacon (about 4 slices), finely diced
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons dried oregano
Small pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
1-1/4 pound ground turkey, dark meat or a combination of dark and white
1 heaping tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken stock
1 cup Greek yogurt
Grated zest of 1 lemon
Salt
1 pound penne or other tubular pasta
Olive oil for finishing the dish
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese, plus extra for serving

Directions:
1) Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat until it shimmers. Add bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to crisp around edges, about 4 minutes. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of drippings. Add onions, garlic, oregano and pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are softened, about 5 minutes.
2) Raise heat to high,  add turkey and season lightly with salt and pepper.. Cook, stirring often and breaking up meat, until meat is browned, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and stir for about 1 minute. Add wine and briskly simmer, scraping up any caramelized bits from bottom of pan. Reduce heat, stir in yogurt and lemon zest and gently simmer to meld flavors, about 5 minutes. Taste again for seasoning, adjusting salt and pepper as needed.  Set aside.
3) Meanwhile, generously salt boiling water. When it returns to a boil, add pasta, quickly stir to separate tubes, then cover pot until water returns to a boil. Uncover and boil, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente.
4) Drain pasta, reserving a cup of cooking water, then pour pasta on top of Bolognese sauce. Drizzle with oil, add cheese and toss to combine over medium heat. If the pasta looks dry, add some of the cooking water. Check seasonings and serve with more cheese. Yield: 6 servings.

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