It’s National Turkey Lovers Month, and we’re talking about the food, not the country or the living animal. You don’t have to travel abroad or go to a petting farm to celebrate this holiday.
For many of us, turkey only comes up at the holidays, in sandwiches or ground as a — we’ll be honest — disappointing alternative to beef. In the TV show Parks and Recs, there was a long joke all about the fact that the fanciest turkey burger will never be as good as the most basic, normal burger. And, in our heart of hearts, we agree. There are health reasons to pick turkey over other proteins. But when it’s being used in place of something else, it’s almost always a disappointment.
Turkey shines when it’s allowed to be its own thing rather than when it’s masquerading as something else. So today we are sharing four low-carb turkey recipes where it’s not trying to be anything but turkey, and they’re all a hit!
We love recipes that incorporate veggies right into the main dish because they make the vegetables more appealing to picky eaters. And we love this dish made with Italian spices. It’s definitely an “American Italian” flavor profile rather than something you would eat in Rome. But that’s fine with us; we’re Americans! The pictures on the site show it being served with cauliflower rice. But we like it best with mashed cauliflower. A serving has 207 calories, four grams of carbs, one gram of fiber and nine grams of fat. Get the recipe.
We love the sweet, savory, salty flavor of teriyaki. It pairs beautifully with the mild flavor of turkey. Traditional teriyaki sauce is high in carbs. But teriyaki-flavored coconut aminos work really well to mimic the flavor. This is a perfect dish to pair with cauliflower rice and enjoy when you are craving Chinese food. A serving has304 calories, nine grams of carbs, two grams of fiber and 20 grams of fat. Get the recipe.
Tetrazzini is a classic American Italian baked casserole of turkey, mushrooms, pasta and cream sauce topped with cheese and breadcrumbs. It’s delicious. It’s not blood sugar-friendly. This lighter version uses zoodles and omits the breadcrumbs. It still isn’t a light dish as it’s full of heavy cream and cheese. But if you are craving the comfort dish, this version won’t spike your blood sugar. The recipe uses cooked turkey cut into bite-sized pieces. It’s great if you have leftovers, or on busy nights, you can grab cooked turkey from the deli counter and make this faster. A serving has 590 calories, 12 grams of carbs, two grams of fiber and 49 grams of fat. Get the recipe.
We disagree with the name of this recipe. This dish has nothing to do with gyros. It’s not cooked in the style of gyros. It doesn’t have the flavor profile of gyros. But it is served with tzatziki and a cucumber salad. It’s a yummy, well-seasoned turkey bowl with plenty of textures that is toothsome and filling. If you are looking for gyros, keep looking. If you are looking for your new favorite “bowl” meal, you’re in luck. A serving has 419 calories, 21 grams of carbs, six grams of fiber and 22 grams of fat. Get the recipe.
We hope you enjoy all these dishes as you eat turkey this month!
