Turkey Lasagna

We’ve finally started back with our clean eating and I’m making meals again.  Our first eat-clean meal of the year is Turkey Lasagna.  We both loved it!  We’ll definitely make it again.  It was very simple to put together and didn’t take long to cook.  The added cinnamon and nutmeg sounded very strange to me, but it totally works.  The smell coming from the kitchen and making it’s way upstairs to my office was divine!  Definitely a keeper!

TURKEY LASAGNA

Serves 8

1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 lb. extra-lean ground white turkey breast
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 (28oz) can whole tomatoes in juice
1 tsp sea salt
8 sheets dried high-protein or whole-wheat lasagna noodles
1 (10oz) box frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 (15oz) container low-fat ricotta cheese
1 egg
3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook another minute. Turn heat to medium-high and add ground turkey, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook until meat shows no sign of pink. Stir in cinnamon and nutmeg, then add tomatoes, their juice and salt, cover and let simmer for 20 minutes, occasionally stirring and breaking up tomatoes with a wooden spoon.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, rinse and allow to cool in a colander.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Squeeze all remaining moisture from thawed spinach and place in a large bowl. Add ricotta cheese, egg and 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese to bowl. Stir until combined.

Spread 1 cup of cooked tomato sauce into bottom of a 9″ x 10″ casserole dish. Layer the lasagna noodles on top, then add 1/2 of the ricotta mixture and repeat with the tomato, noodles, and ricotta mixture, ending with the tomato sauce on top, then top with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.

Bake, covered with foil, for 20 minutes. Remove foil and broil for 5 minutes or until roll-ups are browned and bubbly.