Heart-Healthy Classic Minced Meat Sauce

Transform your favorite comfort food into a guilt-free delight with this Heart-Healthy Classic Minced Meat Sauce. Made with extra-lean ground turkey and packed with nutrient-dense vegetables like carrots, celery, and red bell peppers, this wholesome sauce delivers rich, slow-cooked flavor without the excess fat or sodium. A medley of fragrant seasonings, including oregano, basil, and bay leaf, infuses the tomato-based sauce with irresistible Mediterranean-inspired notes. Simmered to perfection in low-sodium vegetable broth, this dish is a heart-conscious twist on the beloved classic. Serve it over whole-grain pasta or brown rice for a satisfying, balanced meal that’s as nourishing as it is delicious. Perfect for busy weeknights, this healthy recipe is ready in just under an hour and is sure to become a family favorite!

Nutriscore Rating: 80/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 500 grams extra-lean ground turkey
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium, finely chopped onion
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 1 medium, diced carrot
• 1 diced celery stalk
• 1 medium, diced red bell pepper
• 400 grams canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 200 milliliters low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tablespoons, chopped fresh parsley
• 0 optional, to taste salt

Directions

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Step 2

Add the finely chopped onion and sauté until it becomes translucent, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 3

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.

Step 4

Add the diced carrot, celery, and red bell pepper. Cook while stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.

Step 5

Push the vegetables to the side of the skillet and add the extra-lean ground turkey. Cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until it is no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes.

Step 6

Stir in the canned crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and low-sodium vegetable broth.

Step 7

Add the dried oregano, dried basil, ground black pepper, and bay leaf. Mix well to combine.

Step 8

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then cover and let it cook on low heat for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 9

Remove the bay leaf from the sauce and discard it.

Step 10

Taste the sauce, and if desired, add salt to taste, keeping it minimal for heart-health benefits.

Step 11

Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley before serving.

Step 12

Serve the minced meat sauce over your choice of whole-grain pasta or brown rice for a complete heart-healthy meal.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1545.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1020.9

Total Fat 23.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 4.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3g
Cholesterol 350mg	0%
Sodium 3356.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 65.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 16.5g	0%
Total Sugars 35.5g
Protein 141.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 297.3mg	0%
Iron 13.1mg	0%
Potassium 3966.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 20.4%

Protein: 54.3%

Carbs: 25.3%