Published July 24, 2012

The Italian Job: Low Carb Pasta

by Helen M. Ryan
Italian pasta

The family wants pasta for dinner. You may want to jump into the seemingly endless supply of spaghetti but you know you’re on the job and your mission is to avoid too many refined carbs and lose weight. How do you keep the family happy and still be part of the dining experience, without feeling left out? Pasta-less spaghetti to the rescue, so you can have your Italian fix and lose weight, too.
This is what you will need:

  • 1  package of broccoli slaw (as a substitute for pasta)
  • 1 lb of lean ground turkey – 93/7%
  • Lawry’s Italian seasoning mix
  • Vegetables (mix and match). Here I used sliced broccoli and carrots
  • Reduced fat shredded Italian cheese blend
  • 24 oz. pasta sauce of your choice (check labels for the lowest fat and sugar grams)

Slowly cook the lean ground turkey with seasoning until nearly done.
Add pasta sauce to the ground turkey and cover. Cook on medium heat for approximately 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Place broccoli slaw with broccoli florets and carrots in a small sauce pan and cover, cooking on low heat for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Add a couple of tablespoons of water to keep the vegetables moist)

Prepare the regular pasta/spaghetti for the family or company.
It’s time for dinner. Place broccoli slaw and veggies on plate and cover with turkey meat sauce, adding a sprinkle of the Italian cheese blend.

Everyone grabs a plate of spaghetti with meat sauce while you join the feast with your pasta-less Italian dinner. The only difference is that you are substituting the broccoli slaw for pasta, and complementing it with the fresh turkey pasta sauce, veggies and melted Italian blend cheese.

A little tip to help you enjoy the Italian dinner event without feeling you are left out of the mix.
Buon appetito – let’s eat.