Healthy & Hearty: The Ultimate Turkey, Sweet Potato, and Kale Cannelloni Recipe
Turkey, Sweet Potato, and Kale Cannelloni stands out as a truly exceptional and wholesome meal, offering both health benefits and profound satisfaction. This delightful pasta dish masterfully combines the lean richness of ground turkey with the natural sweetness and creamy texture of sweet potato, alongside the vibrant, nutrient-dense goodness of fresh kale. Each cannelloni tube is generously stuffed with this flavorful trio, then lovingly baked in a robust, rustic tomato sauce and crowned with a luxurious, homemade béchamel. It’s an ideal culinary creation for the crisp days of fall, the cozy nights of winter, or even as a unique and memorable addition to your Thanksgiving feast, bringing together classic seasonal ingredients in an exciting new format. More than just a meal, it’s a celebration of comfort food elevated with nutritious ingredients.
This harmonious blend of turkey, sweet potato, and kale makes for an incredibly satisfying dish. It’s comforting, hearty, and surprisingly light all at once. Whether you’re looking for a new family favorite or an impressive dish for guests, this cannelloni delivers on all fronts.
There’s an undeniable joy in savoring a truly satisfying pasta dish, and this turkey, sweet potato, and kale cannelloni certainly delivers. It’s a culinary embrace that makes you appreciate the comforting warmth of carbohydrates, especially when they’re paired with such a delectable and wholesome filling. This particular cannelloni was so exceptionally delicious that despite feeling completely content and full from the generous portions of pasta and the wonderfully sweet potato, it was hard to resist going back for just one more bite. It’s the kind of meal that encourages loosening your belt a notch, a testament to its irresistible flavor and hearty nature, creating those misty, water-colored memories of good times and delicious food.
Just looking at these mouth-watering images makes the craving for this dish almost unbearable. The memory of each perfectly stuffed pasta tube, bathed in savory sauce and topped with melted cheese, is truly unforgettable. It’s a dish that inspires happiness and contentment, much like a carefree bird singing on a warm summer’s day. That feeling of pure joy and satisfaction is exactly what this cannelloni brings to the table.
The Perfect Blend of Flavors: Turkey, Sweet Potato, and Kale
This cannelloni recipe isn’t just about deliciousness; it’s also packed with wholesome ingredients. Ground turkey provides a lean protein source, sweet potato offers natural sweetness, complex carbohydrates, and essential vitamins, while kale brings a powerful dose of greens, rich in vitamins K, A, and C. Together, they create a balanced and nutrient-rich filling that is both satisfying and incredibly flavorful. The subtle earthiness of kale beautifully cuts through the richness of the turkey and the sweetness of the potato, creating a sophisticated taste profile that appeals to all palates.
Envisioning this dish for a special occasion, it feels perfectly suited to accompany a traditional roast Thanksgiving turkey. Why not create your own unique Thanksgiving tradition? Instead of merely stuffing a turkey, you can embrace the holiday spirit by generously stuffing cannelloni pasta with these beloved seasonal ingredients. It’s a delightful twist that honors the flavors of autumn while offering a fresh, innovative main or side dish that guests will adore. The combination of turkey and sweet potato is iconic for a reason, and incorporating it into a pasta dish like this ensures a memorable and comforting meal.
Crafting Your Cannelloni: Tips for Success
While the idea of stuffing cannelloni tubes might seem a bit daunting at first, don’t let it deter you. It’s a straightforward process that simply requires a little patience. If you’re fortunate enough to have a piping bag, it will make the task incredibly easy and mess-free. However, if not, a simple butter knife or even a small spoon can work wonders. The goal is to get that delicious filling inside each tube, and regardless of your “stuffing skills,” the end result will be a triumph. What truly matters is the effort, the love put into preparing the meal, and the happy faces around your dining table. So, embrace the process, and know that every filled tube is a step closer to a fantastic meal.
The Secret to Incredible Sauce: Rustic Tomato & Creamy Béchamel
No cannelloni is complete without the perfect sauces. This recipe features a rich and rustic tomato sauce, simmered to perfection with aromatic onions, garlic, and bell peppers, creating a flavorful base that permeates every pasta tube. But what truly elevates this dish is the addition of a creamy, homemade béchamel sauce. Its smooth, velvety texture cascades over the cannelloni, adding a layer of indulgence that beautifully complements the savory filling and zesty tomato sauce. The aroma alone, as the steaming tomato sauce and creamy béchamel mingle, is enough to have everyone in the kitchen eagerly anticipating dinner, ready to lick every last drop.
Making cannelloni, especially with two homemade sauces, might seem like a substantial undertaking. And yes, it does require a bit more effort than a quick weeknight meal. However, the reward for your culinary labor is immense. This is the kind of restaurant-quality meal that will elicit “oohs” and “aahs” from your dining companions, leaving them thoroughly impressed by the perfect balance of flavors and the exquisite stuffing. It’s a true labor of love that is undoubtedly worth every minute spent in the kitchen.
The Irresistible Cheese Topping and Why It Matters
While the homemade béchamel sauce is technically optional (though highly recommended for that extra layer of creamy decadence), there’s one element that is absolutely non-negotiable: the cheese! Unless you have a strong aversion to cheese, a generous layer of freshly grated Parmesan is essential. This is where the magic truly happens, transforming a delicious pasta bake into an unforgettable culinary experience. Pile it on in copious amounts, because life is too short for sparse cheese. Just like chocolate, cheese brings an instant burst of happiness and adds that perfect golden, bubbly crust to your cannelloni. It’s the crowning glory that seals in the flavors and provides an irresistible texture.
Beyond the Plate: Serving Suggestions and Meal Prep
Lately, my kitchen has been a hub of pasta creations, from a robust Tortellini with Chunky Beef Sauce to a comforting Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Macaroni Cheese Bake. Even lighter options like the Chicken Bruschetta Pasta Salad have had everyone raving. But it’s baked pasta dishes, much like the beloved Chicken Pumpkin and Ricotta Lasagna and this turkey cannelloni, that truly hit the spot with their rich, tomato-infused, and cheesy goodness. This Turkey, Sweet Potato, and Kale Cannelloni is destined to become another firm favorite.
A crucial warning label for this dish: please exercise extreme patience and allow it to cool to a slightly edible temperature before diving in! The tantalizing aroma and bubbling cheese straight from the oven will make you want to devour the entire tray instantly. However, resisting that urge for just a few minutes will prevent burnt tongues and allow the flavors to truly meld and settle. Trust me, it’s worth the wait. Or perhaps that’s just my personal struggle, but the point stands: savor it properly!
When you serve this exquisite cannelloni, your friends and family will undoubtedly be impressed. They might even wonder if you secretly ordered a gourmet “take-away fake-away” meal, only to pretend you cooked it amidst a strategically placed array of dirty pots and pans! Such is the caliber of this dish – it truly looks and tastes like something from a high-end Italian restaurant. To complete this truly elevated dining experience, consider adding a side of my silky Cauliflower Soup. The creamy texture of the soup, alongside the rich cannelloni, will create a harmonious and unforgettable meal. It’s a combination that’s guaranteed to earn you a “chef’s kiss” moment from every delighted diner.
For more pasta recipes:
Spinach Ricotta Manicotti (Cannelloni)
Sausage Eggplant Lasagna With Ricotta Pesto
Chicken Pumpkin and Ricotta Lasagna
Spinach and Ricotta Zucchini Cannelloni
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Turkey, Sweet Potato and Kale Cannelloni
Karina
20 minutes
30 minutes
50 minutes
10
Ingredients
Filling:
-
1
large
brown onion
chopped -
16
oz
extra lean ground turkey mince -
1
medium
sized sweet potato
pre cooked/roasted or steamed and soft -
2
teaspoon
minced garlic
or 2 garlic cloves minced -
4
cups
fresh kale
shredded -
2
tablespoons
vegetable stock powder -
2
tablespoons
fresh parsley
chopped -
2
tablespoons
fresh basil leaves
chopped (optional) -
30
tubes
dry cannelloni pasta
Tomato Sauce:
-
1
large
brown onion
chopped -
2
teaspoons
minced garlic -
½
red capsicum/bell pepper -
2
cans
condensed tomato soup -
1
tablespoon
vegetable stock powder -
1
pinch
salt to season
(Optional) Bechamel Sauce:
-
2
tablespoons
butter -
2
tablespoons
flour -
1
pinch
salt to season -
1
cup
milk of choice
at room temperature
Topping:
-
3/4
cup
fresh parmesan cheese
grated
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 200℃ | 390℉.
Filling:
-
Cook the onion in a pan sprayed with cooking oil until translucent. Add the ground turkey and garlic powder, breaking up the turkey with your wooden spoon and cook until browned. Add in the sweet potato and the kale, and stir until leaves begin to wilt. Add in the herbs and set aside to cool slightly.
-
Mash the sweet potato with a fork and mix through the turkey.
-
While that’s cooking, make sauce:
Tomato Sauce:
-
In a separate pan, fry onion, garlic and capsicum/bell peppers until onion is translucent. Add the soup and stock powder and simmer on low heat. Once slightly thickened reduce heat until all flavours are combined and cooked through.Turn off heat.
Optional Bechamel Sauce:
-
To make sauce, melt butter in a medium sized saucepan on very low heat. Add the flour and cook stirring for about 1-2 minutes until smooth.
-
Take off heat and gradually add the milk stirring constantly until combined and completely smooth. Slowly add the rest of the milk while stirring continuously until the mixture is smooth. Return to the heat to cook while stirring with a wooden spoon until sauce begins to boil and thicken while coating the back of your wooden spoon (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and stir through salt.
Cannelloni:
-
Stuff filling into each cannelloni tube until full. Repeat with all cannelloni and arrange into an oven-proof dish in a single layer. Pour the sauce evenly over the cannelloni, turning them slightly to coat in sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
-
Cover the tray with foil and bake the cannelloni for 20-30 minutes, or until pasta is soft. Remove foil and change oven settings to grill/broil for a further 10 minutes, or until cheese is golden.
-
Serve the cannelloni with extra tomato sauce from the baking tray and garnish with fresh herbs.
Notes
Nutrition
Calories:
232
kcal
|
Carbohydrates:
22
g
|
Protein:
15
g
|
Fat:
10
g
|
Saturated Fat:
4
g
|
Polyunsaturated Fat:
2
g
|
Monounsaturated Fat:
3
g
|
Trans Fat:
0.1
g
|
Cholesterol:
53
mg
|
Sodium:
832
mg
|
Potassium:
670
mg
|
Fiber:
2
g
|
Sugar:
9
g
|
Vitamin A:
4.762
IU
|
Vitamin C:
27
mg
|
Calcium:
156
mg
|
Iron:
2
mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this? Leave a comment below!