I have been a long time fan of Gina's site Skinnytaste. It is even hard for me to describe how much I owe this wonderful woman who changed my view on healthy food back in 2009 when I first discovered her blog. I was in college living in a tiny apartment and needed a better and healthier way to make food in my tiny kitchen. And then I found the treasure trove which is Skinnytaste. I can honestly say I have tried at least 50 of her recipes since then and have LOVED every single one! From her Crockpot Italian Sloppy Joes to her Baked Chicken Nuggets. They are ALL amazing. So I cooked her recipes all through college and continue to this day to make her recipes a weekly staple in my meal plans to keep me on track! And her cookbook phrase says it all " Light on calories, big on flavor" couldn't sum up her recipes better than that blurp.
I look up to her so much and it would be such an honor to meet her someday let alone have a blog that inspires as many people as she does!
So, yes when I heard she was coming out with her first cookbook I preordered mine right away back in April! And it's even better than I could have hoped! I plan on trying all of these recipes in her cookbook too! And I wanted to share with you the one that stood out first to me and came out delicious. Spaghetti "Squashta" with Turkey Bolognese. I LOVE Italian cuisine and Gina has a knack for coming up with great Italian recipes! I knew I had to make this sauce. And yes, I did take a spoonful or two straight from the pot. How could I not?
And it uses one of my favorite low carb options- the spaghetti squash. I have always roasted mine in the oven but Gina makes it even easier with microwave instructions! My dinner was whipped up in no time at all!
The sauce came out so flavorful and if you are an Italian food junky like me, then this will satisfy your cravings without the huge calorie intake from eating a big bowl of pasta. Instead you have a meal filled with veggies, protein, and enough "pasta" to fill you up for hours!
And because I LOVE The Skinnytaste Cookbook: Light on Calories, Big on Flavor
You Need:
2 oz of pancetta, chopped
½ tbs unsalted butter
½ cup chopped ( 1 small) onion
1 celery stalk, minced
1 medium carrot, minced
1.3 lbs 93% lean ground turkey
kosher salt
fresh cracked pepper
¼ cup white wine
½ tbs tomato paste
¾ cup 1% milk
1 ( 28-oz) can od crushed tomatoes
1 bay leaf
2 medium spaghetti squash
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
Directions:
In a large Dutch oven, saute the pancetta over medium heat until the fat melts ( 3 minutes)
Reduce the heat to medium low
Add butter, carrot, onion, celery, and cook until soft ( 5 minutes)
Increase heat to medium high and add the turkey and salt and pepper
Cook turkey until no longer pink, ( 8 minutes), Break the meat up with wooden spoon as it cooks
Add the tomato paste, milk, tomatoes, and bay leaf
Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer, covered, for 20 to 25 minutes stirring occasionally
While the sauce simmers, using a sharp kinfe pierce the spaghetti squash about 8-9 times
Microwave on high for 6 minutes
Turn and microwave for an additional 8 minutes/
Let squash cool for 5 minutes
Halve the squash lengthwise
Remove the seeds and use a fork to scrape out the "spaghetti"
Remove and discard bay leaf, stir in basil.
To serve, put 1 cup spaghetti squash in 6 serving bowls and top with a generous ¾ cup os bolognese
Enjoy!
Recipe by The Skinny Cookbook by Gina Homolka
*The cookbook link I used above is an Amazon affiliate link
** To qualify for this giveaway you must live in the US
*** If you do not win this giveaway I still encourage you to buy a copy of this book! You won't regret it!
[email protected] says
Beautiful photos, so happy you enjoyed it and the book!! Thanks for doing this!
kellysparklesshoes says
I don't have a family, at least not in NYC, but I love making baked cauliflower!
xx Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
carolina says
I would love to win this book!
mary valadez says
Love Skinnytaste recipes! Always been a fan! Would love to make this recipe for hubby!
Melissa from HungryFoodLove.com says
Need to get that book!
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says
squashta made me giggle. This book is very near the top of my wishlist.
Back for Seconds says
Oh this looks so good! I love making a skinny thai shrimp pasta - yum!
TheSuburbanSoapbox says
I love SkinnyTaste...she has the best recipes without making you feel deprived. This recipe is divine!
Angela {Mind Over Batter} says
Skinny Taste rocks so hard. I can't wait to get her cookbook. This spaghetti squash looks delicious! And that sauce?! Mmm...
Sarah Walker Caron (Sarah's Cucina Bella) says
I love, love, love spaghetti squash with bolognese. Mmmm!
sweetasacookie says
I can't wait to check out her cookbook. A copy just got delivered to our local library so I'll be going to check it out real soon.
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says
What a beautiful recipe. I happen to have tons of spaghetti squash from our garden just waiting to be used. This recipe is just what I needed. Love the ground turkey too. YUM!
[email protected] says
Thanks Renee!!
Crystal Barrett says
Can you believe I've never had spaghetti squash? It seems to be growing in popularity! I need to get on the squashta train soon! This looks better than regular spaghetti!
[email protected] says
I had my first one a few years ago and couldn't believe how similar it tastes to real spaghetti!
Paula - bell'alimento says
Love this. I need to get my hands on a copy of Gina's book. It looks awesome.
Martha @ A Family Feast says
Love this recipe - and I really must get that cookbook!
Amy @Very Culinary says
I make spaghetti squash a lot with just butter, pancetta, and parmesan, but I know a lot of people prepare it this way. Always sounds great!
cake duchess says
I made spaghetti squash last night...one of my kids loves it! Great recipe and will have to try very soon!!
Ginny McMeans says
I agree! Skinnytaste has some wonderful recipes. It is very exciting that she has out a cookbook too. I am looking forward to seeing it!
savoryexperiments says
This cookbook looks right up my alley! I want to make squashta too!
christine (@foodyschmoody) says
I like to swap turkey in place of beef in burgers and meatloaf to lighten things up
LaurenKellyNutrition says
This looks so yummy! I love Skinnytaste recipes 🙂
Ashley Bree Perez says
I have entered and would love to win! (: I would love to start eating healthy and losing weight(:
Jen Bradley says
This looks so good!!!
Dinnermom says
The Skinny Taste site is a favorite of mine...and this recipe is fantastic! Love using spaghetti squash in place of pasta noodle. 🙂
Heather | girlichef (@girlichef) says
Mmmm...this is one of my favorite kind of meals once Spaghetti Squash starts hangin' out everywhere. It's time, it's time! Adding to my to-try list, thanks 🙂
foodwanderings says
At first I read Turkey like in the country not the poultry. 🙂 Love this recipe and a great cookbook giveaway!
lanaann says
Skinnytaste does have great recipes that lower calories without reducing satisfaction. Great to see her new cookbook available for purchase! I don't have a copy yet, but if all the recipes are as great as this one, it'll definitely be a best seller.
Wanda Osborne says
I absolutely love skinnytaste recipes they have helped me lose almost 35 pounds in 3 months
[email protected] says
That's amazing! She too has helped me lose a lot of weight! She rocks!
Wanda Osborne says
Besides the recipes are delicious and informative gives serving size, calories and all nutritional facts pictures help too. I found her on instagram