Ingredients
- Kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 leeks (white and light green parts only), finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 ounces ground turkey
- 1 28-ounce can San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand
- Freshly ground pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for topping
- 3 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus the rind (optional)
- 12 ounces penne
- 2 tablespoons half-and-half
Directions
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks, garlic and turkey and cook, stirring, until the turkey browns slightly, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, 2 cups water and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Increase the heat to high, bring the sauce to a boil and cook 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, add half of the basil and the parmesan rind and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes.
Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta. Stir the half-and-half, the remaining basil and 2 tablespoons cheese into the sauce. Add the pasta and toss to coat, adding some of the reserved pasta water to loosen, if needed. Remove the parmesan rind and season with salt and pepper.
Divide the pasta among bowls. Top with the remaining 1 tablespoon cheese and more basil.
Per serving: Calories 493; Fat 8 g (Saturated 3 g); Cholesterol 27 mg; Sodium 392 mg; Carbohydrate 79 g; Fiber 7 g; Protein 26 g
Photograph by Antonis Achilleos

Photo: Penne With Turkey Ragu Recipe

















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Read all 7 reviews
By bleeps
on January 10, 2013
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nsacchetti -- this version DOES still call for the 2 cups of water (it's in the body of the recipe! I thought it sounded like too much water but did it anyway (don't ask me why! -- and then let it simmer for over an hour to help reduce it and concentrate the flavor. It is supposed to be "light" -- and it's certainly easy -- but I'm not sure this one's a keeper.
By katie.faver@gma...
on July 29, 2012
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Awesome!! Loved the flavor. I added some crushed red pepper for a little heat!
By nsacchetti
PITTSFIELD, 61
on February 20, 2012
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Not worth it. Bland, bland, bland . . . I see they have adjusted the recipe from the one that appears in the Food Network magazine calling for 2 cups of water. Luckily I recognized that it must have been an error. Even so, I thought the dish was tasteless.
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