Here’s a fabulous Chinese take on an Italian classic, spaghetti and meat sauce! You’ll see this delicious dish on many menu’s such as P. F. Chang’s China Bistro. My skinny, super yummy meat sauce is a little different than a classic recipe and includes, a bit spicy Asian flavored peanut sauce, veggies, pineapple chunks and lean ground turkey breast. It’s served over high fiber, whole grain spaghetti. Each skinny serving has 348 calories and 11 grams of fat. Next time you decide to have pasta night in your house, try this fantastic dish!
Ingredients
- 6 ounces dry whole grain angel hair spaghetti or whole grain spaghetti
- 1 (8 oz.) can pineapple chunks (in 100% pineapple juice) undrained
- ⅓ cup plus 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 5 tablespoons chunky peanut butter or creamy, see shopping tip
- 3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 3-4 tablespoons water
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, to taste
- Cooking spray
- 1 teaspoons olive oil or other vegetable oil
- 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup scallions, sliced
- 2 tablespoon ginger, from a jar, see shopping tip
- 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
- 12 ounces ground turkey breast (½ package 99% fat-free turkey breast)
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti until al dente (tender cooked). Drain and set aside.
- Cut pineapple chunks in half and set aside. Save ⅓ cup plus 1 tablespoon pineapple juice from can for peanut sauce. Toss the rest of the juice.
- To make peanut sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together ⅓ cup plus 1 tablespoon pineapple juice, rice vinegar, peanut butter, soy sauce, water and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
- Coat a large nonstick pan with cooking spray. Add oil, red bell peppers, scallions, ginger, garlic and ground turkey. Cook over medium-high heat, for about 5-6 minutes to brown the turkey. Be sure to stir often, breaking up turkey into small pieces, while browning. Cook until turkey is browned.
- Stir in pineapple chunks and peanut sauce. Simmer, stirring often until sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Taste the sauce, if you like it spicier, stir in a bit more red pepper flakes.
- Leftover sauce will keep in refrigerator for a few days. The sauce tends to thicken when refrigerated so add about 1 tablespoon of water before heating. This sauce freezes great too!
Notes
Makes 5 servings, each serving ¾ cup pasta (not packed) and about ¾ cup sauce
Food Facts
Dan Dan noodles is a classic dish originating from Chinese Sichuan cuisine. It consists of a spicy sauce containing preserved vegetables, chili oil, Sichuan pepper, minced pork, and scallions, served over noodles. In American Chinese cuisine, Dan Dan noodle recipes are often sweeter, less spicy, and less soupy, and peanut butter is sometimes added.
Healthy Benefits
Peanut butter is an excellent source of protein and healthy fats and can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. For the healthiest choice, look for brands that have no oil or sugar added. This dish contains 7 grams of fiber, thanks to using whole grain spaghetti noodles and chunky peanut butter!
Shopping Tips
I used Trader Joe’s natural, unsalted, crunchy peanut butter. There are several other brands sold such as Laura Scudder’s natural crunchy peanut butter. I like to use ginger from a jar. It can be found in the produce section of the supermarket where they sell garlic, in a jar.
Weight Watchers (old points) 7
Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS 9
Dan Dan noodles is a classic dish originating from Chinese Sichuan cuisine. It consists of a spicy sauce containing preserved vegetables, chili oil, Sichuan pepper, minced pork, and scallions, served over noodles. In American Chinese cuisine, Dan Dan noodle recipes are often sweeter, less spicy, and less soupy, and peanut butter is sometimes added.
Healthy Benefits
Peanut butter is an excellent source of protein and healthy fats and can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. For the healthiest choice, look for brands that have no oil or sugar added. This dish contains 7 grams of fiber, thanks to using whole grain spaghetti noodles and chunky peanut butter!
Shopping Tips
I used Trader Joe’s natural, unsalted, crunchy peanut butter. There are several other brands sold such as Laura Scudder’s natural crunchy peanut butter. I like to use ginger from a jar. It can be found in the produce section of the supermarket where they sell garlic, in a jar.
Weight Watchers (old points) 7
Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS 9
| SKINNY FACTS: for 1 serving (¾ cup pasta and about ¾ cup sauce) 348 calories, 11g fat, 26g protein, 40g carbs, 7g fiber, 385mg sodium, 7g sugar |
| FAT FACTS: for ½ serving P. F. Chang’s Dan Dan Noodles 570 calories, 14g fat, 26g protein, 60g carbs, 4g fiber, 2,776mg sodium, 0g sugar |
Skinny Facts
Serving: 1.5cupsCalories: 348kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 26gFat: 11gSodium: 385mgFiber: 7gSugar: 7gPlus Points: 9
