This dish tastes AMAZING, and given how creamy it is you would never guess that it’s actually super low in calories.
This recipe is perfect for those trying to lose weight as it’s high in protein, which helps us to feel fuller for longer and low in fat, which means low in calories (it uses lean turkey & light cream cheese).
Ingredients
- 250g turkey breast
- 1 onion
- 150g mushrooms
- 2 tbsp lemon zest
- 100g extra light chive & onion (or garlic & herb) cream cheese
- 1 tbsp chopped chives
- 2 spring onions
- low calorie spray oil
- 150g of regular pasta*
*all pasta has a low GI (meaning it releases its energy slowly), choose whole-wheat for additional health benefits
including extra fibre and minerals and choose fresh pasta if you tend to suffer from bloating (it’s easier to digest!)
Method
Step 1
Cut the turkey breasts into strips and add to a non-stick pan sprayed with low-calorie oil. Fry for ~5 minutes until just cooked.
Step 2
Slice your vegetables and add the onion to the pan for 1-2 minutes before adding the mushrooms and spring onions and frying for 2-3 minutes.
Step 3
When the vegetables are soft add the cream cheese and stir well before adding the chives and lemon zest.
Step 4
Serve with fresh or dried ribbon pasta
UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who sends me pictures of my recipes on Twitter & Facebook – here are a selection!!
I just made this using half portions as I was just cooking for myself and OH my goodness! I am satisfied and it was perfect after a 10 mile walk today. Not heavy and tasted lovely. Good ol’ turkey 😀
Author
Thanks for your comment Sarah – so glad to hear you loved the recipe! Nic x
I made this last night for me, the husband and our daughters (aged 7 and 23 Months). I am always keen to ensure they get plenty of veggies so increased the amount of mushrooms (which I love cos they are low calorie) and some spinach. Eldest daughter was given the choice of her favourite fish pie or this and she choose this. All in all everyone very happy, very tasty. Mine had extra cals due to the type of pasta used, but overall it was a very low calorie filling dish! Will be making again!
Author
Hi Katrina! Thank you so much for your lovely comment and suggestions – that’s so great to hear! It’s great with wholewheat spaghetti too 🙂 Nic x
We had this last week although we cheated and used chicken. It was excellent, really tasty and we’ll definitely be having it again. Thanks Nic!
Author
Hi Calum! Oooh you didn’t cheat! Love your suggestion and chicken is just as good as turkey 🙂 Thanks for your comment!! x
Trying to eat healthy can be tough at times, with a lot of meals being bland, or needing far too many herbs & spices to bring a flavour from blandsville. Another problem, can be complicated ingredients, too many time, people seem to want to go exotic to keep things healthy. No…. keep it simple, keep it interesting, and keep it tasty.
I came across this when having a browse for a poultry / pasta / rice dish. Shopping list was straight forward (We have a smallish size Morrisons local to us (compared to most), that doesn’t have that much of an amazing range at times, but usually enough) so I thought that would be an easy pick up and a quick to make meal.
I used Mo’s Nu Me Cream cheese with chives and onion. A good splosh of lemon juice instead of zest, and served it with fresh free range pasta tagliatelle (Kids love this so battle was half won with the fussy ones!!) I also didn’t slice the mushrooms, but just quartered them to keep them a bit crunchier (fussy ones again 😉 )
I made this for four, so was a biggish mix, and I used a smallish wok. I followed Nic’s instructions other than the above mentioned couple of changes, the cheese went in as a solid block, and took a lot of mixing, I’ll do this in scoops next time (and there will be a next time) I’d started the pasta when the mushrooms and spring onions had gone in, and just kept the heat on once the cheese, chives and lemon had gone in, until the pasta was done.
I had taken a few taste tests as it was going only, and I was feeling pretty happy on how it was coming along. (Which was quite quick once the meat had cooked) However what I like and what the rest of the family likes can be quite different at times, especially if there involves chili 🙂 But it was served out and put to the test.
Initially, the fussy’s responded with comments like, “oh, this looks nicer than expected”, “have we got to eat it all” (normal question) followed by “ooooh this is lovely”, “can we have this again?” “can we have this in the week” They were not wrong, it tastes flipping fantastic!!!
That much taste does not deserve to be healthy, there is far too much creamy flavour and not enough calories. (Not that I’m going to argue that point)
There is no doubt at all that this will become quite a regular meal here, quick, simple tasty… CHECK.
With the maybe not so light cheese, and the fresh pasta not eat water pasta, myfitnesspal came up with the following nutritional values per serving. (There was a lot of pasta btw, that didn’t all get finished)
Energy 380Kcals
Carbs 35g (sugars 5g)
Fat 12g
Protein 48g (Check that bad boy!!)
Sodium 0.3g
I rambled a bit, but I hope you feel it was worth it, this recipe certainly is 🙂 5*
Author
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such an amazing post! Love your tweaks and I’m so happy that you enjoyed it 🙂 Thank you for the pic too!! xx
Hi Nic,
I have made this before with extra light cream cheese and loved it, I want to make it agian tonight but only have quark, do you think that would produce a similar result?
x
Author
Yes it would! Maybe add a little more herbs for flavour 🙂 x