Turkey

Many of us think of turkey as something to serve during holidays, especially here in the U.S. (Think Thanksgiving, for starters.)

But turkey can be served year 'round, as these recipes show. Check out the Grilled Turkey, Portabella Mushrooms and Vegetable Kebabs, the Turkey Scaloppine with Marsala Glaze, and the rest of today's diabetic-friendly turkey recipes. Enjoy!

EGGPLANT LASAGNA

This recipe begins, “An extra set of hands from a little helper can shave minutes off the assembly of this Eggplant Lasagna, while getting a youngster excited about digging into a veggie-centric dinner.”

Yield: 8 servings

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Ingredients

Pam Original No-Stick Cooking Spray

1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

3/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

1 large eggplant (about 1 pound), cut into 1/4-inch thick lengthwise slices

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 package (20 ounces) ground turkey

3/4 cup chopped yellow onion

1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic

1 can (14.5 ounces) Hunt's Original Diced Tomatoes, No Salt Added, drained

1/4 cup Hunt's Tomato Paste (or Hunt’s Organic)

1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil

1-1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

Heat oven to 350F.

Spray 8-by-8-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray.

In small bowl, combine ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning; set aside.

Heat grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush eggplant slices with oil; sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.

In batches, place eggplant on grill pan. Cook each side 1-2 minutes or until lightly browned and tender. Remove and place on baking sheet lined with paper towels; pat to remove excess moisture.

Spray large skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Add turkey and cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add onion and garlic; cook 2-3 minutes more or until onion is tender and turkey is crumbled and no longer pink. Drain.

Add drained tomatoes, tomato paste and basil to skillet; stir to combine. Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes more.

Assemble lasagna by spreading 3/4 cup meat mixture over bottom of dish. Place 3 eggplant slices over meat mixture, top with 3/4 cup meat mixture, half of ricotta cheese mixture and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.

Repeat layers, ending with a layer of eggplant slices topped with meat mixture and remaining mozzarella cheese.

Spray underside of aluminum foil with cooking spray; cover dish tightly with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 318; Protein: 22 g; Fat: 19 g; Sodium: 363 mg; Cholesterol: 72 mg; Saturated Fat: 7 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g ; Carbohydrates: 13 g

COLORFUL TURKEY STUFFED PEPPERS

Yield: 4 servings

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Source: Jennie-O

Ingredients

2 bell peppers, preferably a mix of yellow, green or red

1/2 (16-ounce) package Jennie-O Extra Lean Ground Turkey Breast

1/4 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves

1/4 teaspoon salt, if desired

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 (14-1/2-ounce) can low-sodium diced tomatoes or seasoned diced tomatoes, drained

1/2 cup cooked white or brown rice

3/4 cup shredded low-fat Cheddar cheese, divided

paprika, if desired

fresh parsley, if desired

Directions

Heat oven to 375F.

Cut bell peppers lengthwise through stems keeping stem halves intact to hold stuffing. Discard seeds and veins.

Cook peppers in boiling salted water 5 to 6 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and immediately place peppers in ice water to stop cooking process. Drain peppers well and place cut side up in 8 x 8-inch baking dish.

Cook ground turkey as specified on the package. Always cook to well-done, 165F as measured by a meat thermometer.

Add onion, garlic, basil, salt, if desired, ground pepper, tomatoes, and rice; continue to cook 5 to 6 minutes or until heated through and most of the juices have reduced.

Remove meat mixture from heat and stir in 1/2 cup cheese.

Mound heaping 1/2 cup of mixture into each pepper half.

Bake 20 minutes or until filling is hot and peppers are tender.

Remove peppers from oven and sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup cheese on top of peppers. Sprinkle with paprika and parsley, if desired.

Always cook to an internal temperature of 165F. Learn how to safely handle turkey.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 160; Protein: 20 g; Fat: 2.5 g; Sodium: 210 mg; Cholesterol: 30 mg; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g ; Sugars: 5 g ; Carbohydrates: 14 g

APPLE AND PEACH CHUTNEY TURKEY PATTIE

Yield: 4 servings.

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Ingredients

4 tablespoons canola oil, divided

1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

1 apple, peeled, cored and finely diced

1/4 cup chopped green onion

1 clove garlic, finely diced

1 pound ground turkey

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1/3 cup peach chutney

1/2 cup dry bread crumbs

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In medium-size fry pan, heat 2 tablespoons canola oil.

Saute red onion, apple, green onion and garlic for 3 to 5 minutes, over medium-low heat.

Place ground turkey in large mixing bowl. Add apple mixture, mustard, peach chutney, bread crumbs, salt and pepper. Form into burgers.

In large fry pan, heat remaining 2 tablespoons canola oil. Cook burgers over medium heat until juices run clear, approximately 15 minutes. Cooking time will depend on thickness of burgers. Turn once during cooking time. Serve on whole wheat roll with side of baked chips.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 420; Protein: 23 g; Fat: 26 g; Sodium: 370 mg; Cholesterol: 95 mg; Carbohydrates: 25 g

TURKEY CASSEROLE

Recipe Yield: Serves: 4

Source: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine

Book Title: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/turkey-casserole.

Ingredients

4 ounces vegetale elbow or shell macaroni

1/2 pound ground turkey

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1/2 teaspoon dried leaf thyme

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

Pepper to Taste

1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook macaroni until al dente, being careful not to overcook. Drain and rinse under cold water. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan or casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large non-stick skillet, cook turkey, onion and garlic until meat is browned. Drain off fat. Stir in macaroni, tomato sauce, thyme, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Spoon into casserole dish and top with cheese. Bake 30 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 241; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 253 mg; Cholesterol: 40 mg; Protein: 17 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Meat, 1 Starch/Bread, 1 Vegetable

TURKEY SCALOPPINE WITH MARSALA GLAZE

Serving size: 3-1/2 ounces of turkey, 2 to 3 slices

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 Servings

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

Book Title: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

View online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/turkey-scaloppine-with-marsala-glaze.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

1 pound boneless turkey breast, thinly sliced

1/4 cup dry white wine

1/2 cup homemade chicken broth or canned reduced-sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup sweet marsala wine

1 clove garlic, minced

2 teaspoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Directions

Mix the flour with the seasoned salt and pepper in a pie plate or plastic bag. Dredge the turkey slices and shake off the excess.

Heat a large skillet and spray well with non-stick pan spray. Cook the cutlets in a single layer over medium-high heat about 2 minutes on each side, or until light tan in color. Remove the turkey to a warm platter.

Add the white wine, chicken broth, marsala, garlic, and brown sugar to the skillet. Stir, scraping any bits form the bottom of the pan. Bring to a boil and reduce the sauce to about 1/2 cup.

In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water. Add to the sauce, bring to a boil, and stir in the lemon zest.

Reduce the heat. Return the turkey to the skillet. Coat with sauce to glaze, and heat thoroughly, about 5 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 172; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 192 mg; Cholesterol: 82 mg; Protein: 31 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Sugars: 3 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Starch, 4 Very Lean Meat

GRILLED TURKEY, PORTABELLA MUSHROOMS AND VEGETABLE KEBABS

Yield: 4 servings

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/907.shtml

Ingredients

1-1/2 to 2 pounds turkey thighs, skinned, boned & cut into 1-inch cubes

2 whole portabella mushrooms, stemmed & quartered

1/2 cup green onions, chopped

1/3 cup olive oil

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 teaspoon dried tarragon

1/2 medium red bell pepper, seeded & cut into 1-inch cubes

1 small yellow squash, cut into 1/2-inch rounds

1 small zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch rounds

Directions

Place turkey cubes and mushroom quarters in a large, self-closing, food-safe plastic bag.

In small bowl, combine green onions, oil, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, rosemary and tarragon. Pour over turkey and mushrooms. Seal bag and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.

Spray grill rack with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Prepare grill for direct heat cooking.

Drain turkey and mushrooms from marinade and discard marinade.

On 10 or 12-inch skewers, alternating ingredients, arrange drained turkey cubes, mushrooms, bell pepper, yellow squash and zucchini.

Grill over medium flame or coals 10 to 12 minutes or until turkey is no longer pink in center, turning once. Cook thighs to an internal temperature of 170 degrees F.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 320; Protein: 49 g; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 150 mg; Cholesterol: 130 mg; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g