Turkey Casserole with Pasta and a hint of Garam Masala

This post is sponsored by CanadianTurkey. As always, opinions are my own.

October can be a really busy month for many moms and for some of us, sometimes having a go-to meal can be the difference between having more time with family at the dinner table and a rushed dinner time with no time to connect. By October, we’re in the throws of homework, work obligations, flu season, kids’ colds, and well, more colds. For this reason, I like to keep one day of the week for all in one meal that doesn’t need much prep or cooking time and just gets the job done. But keeping it healthy is also key.

My kids love pasta and cheese any time of the week and yes, many of us are afraid of too many carbs and cheese but using a lean protein like turkey and perhaps even whole grain pasta is a great way to have a balance. Turkey is an easy protein that can go a long way in keeping the variety as it’s a flexible protein that takes on the flavours of all of our South Asian spices but also is easy to cook.

One of my favourite recipes is a turkey masala-spiced casserole that the kids love too. Ground turkey, veggies, cheese, pasta and spices cooked and put into the oven—and voila, you’re done! October is Canadian Turkey Month and whether you’re planning for weeknight dinners, weekend family nights, or gatherings with special friends turkey is a lean choice that can be swapped in for the usual protein in any of your favourite recipes.

Consider reaching for turkey as part of your weekly grocery routine. Hectic days and packed schedules make it challenging to prepare healthy recipes, and by choosing turkey, you can feel good feeding your family meals packed with protein and nutrients.

Here’s how to make an easy turkey casserole spiced with a bit of garam masala and penne

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg ground turkey
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil or add fresh leaves
• 1tsp dried parsley
• ½ tsp garam masala
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 can tomatoes
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 small zucchini chopped
• ½ red pepper chopped
• ½ yellow pepper chopped
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 cup cheddar cheese grated
• ½ parmesan cheese grated
• 1 tsp garlic

Directions:

1. Cook pasta al dente as per package instructions. Drain and set aside. Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
2. Preheat a large skillet on medium heat and add olive oil. Add onion and garlic, sauté for 2 – 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add ground turkey and cook for another 10 minutes, breaking meat into pieces and stirring occasionally.
3. Add garam masala and stir for another 3-4 mins.
4. Transfer half of the mixture in a rectangular baking dish and sprinkle with 3/4 cup cheese. Top with remaining mixture and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
5. Remove foil and broil until cheese is golden brown. Serve hot garnish with fresh basil if desired.

You can use your leftovers in any of your favourite recipes, or visit canadianturkley.ca where you can find a selection of delicious recipes for inspiration.  There are unlimited ways to incorporate turkey into your everyday meals. With so many good reasons to enjoy it, put turkey on the top of your weekly grocery list. We’ll be celebrating all things turkey during Canadian Turkey Month.

5 REASONS TO REACH FOR TURKEY DURING CANADIAN TURKEY MONTH

1. Easy Sub Turkey makes everyday meals delicious and tasty. It’s packed with deep and satisfying flavour and you can easily substitute turkey into any of your family’s favourite meals.

Make Canadian Turkey Month the time to sample some new and different recipes.

2. Lean But Juicy It’s hard to believe but with turkey, both white and dark cuts are lean. That means you can enjoy any cut you prefer, and feel good knowing you are choosing a healthy protein without compromising on flavor, tenderness or juiciness. To find out more about why turkey is a healthy choice for everyday living, visit https://www.canadianturkey.ca/nutrition/
3. So Much To Choose From Turkey is such a versatile protein, with so many cuts of both dark and white meat to choose from, including ground meat, legs, drumsticks, breast steaks, breast rolls, breast roasts, thighs, drummettes, wings, sausages, and burgers. With such a wide selection, you can enjoy turkey at breakfast, lunch or dinner, with leftovers that taste delicious the next day. Look for a variety of cuts at your local grocer or butcher during Canadian Turkey Month.

4. Pack A Flavour Punch Turkey plays well with other flavours. It’s hearty taste and texture marry well with bold profiles, making it a perfect partner for spices and rubs. Make recipes your own by using

your family’s favourite flavours and change up your everyday dishes using rubs, marinades and sauces. Need inspiration? Visit https://www.canadianturkey.ca/recipe-category/featured-recipes/

5. Perfect For Penny Pinchers Turkeys are generally larger than other poultry options and deliver a lot of meat for the price. Whole birds can be roasted for pennies per pound, and are a perfect choice for

batch cooking meals or freezing leftover meat that can come in handy as an everyday meal starter. Cuts like drums, breasts and thighs are larger, so you need fewer pieces to feed your family and plan for leftovers to stock your fridge.

Looking for additional tips, recipes, Turkey Basics videos and HOW TOs? Visit canadianturkey.ca for all your cooking inspiration.

Follow @masalamommas

©masalamommas and masalamommas.com, 2016-2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to masalamommas.com and Masalamommas online magazine with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.