Pasta With Turkey and Broccoli

This is probably the only thing I've ever made with ground turkey that I would make again. I doubled the called for amount of spices, reduced the amount of turkey to about 3/4 lb, and added extra broccoli. I also used nutritional yeast with the parmesan for extra health benefits. Both my teenagers ate it without complaint - i.e. maybe not their favorite thing ever (tacos), but good enough for an easy, quick dinner.

We LOVE this recipe. I usually put far more broccoli than it calls for. I love how simple it is, yet it tastes great. The key is to add the grated Parmesan on top (freshly grated is best - I LOVE the one I get from Aldi!) but let's be honest, sometimes all you have is the green can and that's okay, too! It also needs quite a bit of salt as you're mixing it all together. With the salt and the Parmesan, that really brings out the flavors of the few simple ingredients.

I made this recipe last night for dinner and it was a very easy, quick and tasty meal. I think many of the negative reviewers are failing to keep something important in mind. It isn't supposed to be a gourmet restaurant meal. It's a simple and nutritious week night meal that doesnt require a ton of chopping or fancy ingredients. It's mild enough for the whole family, if you leave out the pepper and offer it at the table instead. The fennel gives it a flavor similar to itailian sausage without the additives that are typically in the sausage. Sausage is very high in sodium and some brands even contain added sugar. I like the straightforward ingredient list and that the recipe lends itself to imagination. You can make it with whole wheat and different shaped pastas and change up the veggies. It's a wonderful basic recipe. I am currently battling a stomach condition that requires me to stay away from overly spicy, greasy, cheesy food and I found this recipe didnt cause any stomach upset. I do recommend using freshy grated parmesan, freshly chopped garlic and you can grab the florets already cut in the bagged salad section of your local walmart. For more tender broccoli add it a little earlier. This recipe is a keeper!