I am going to tell you a little “pasta” trick that you may or may not know about…

The trick: Bean sprouts!

When you are making a recipe that uses spaghetti noodles and vegetables, like this one, you can use less of the pasta and swap it out with bean sprouts from a can. Canned bean sprouts are just 15 calories per serving and zero smart points for an entire can! Bean sprouts are good for you and they do a fantastic job of bulking up this meal.  I was shocked when my family did not ask the question I thought for sure they would ask, “What are these?”. Honestly, the beans sprouts are masked with the spaghetti and you barely even notice them. It’s like a little magic trick.

What makes a Lo Mein dish “Lo Mein”?

Lo Mein dishes traditionally use Chinese egg noodles. I used regular spaghetti noodles because we already had some and I wanted to work with what we had. For a more similar taste to traditional Lo Mein dishes that would be inexpensive and easy, you could swap out the spaghetti for 1 (3 oz.) package of  ramen noodles (Toss out the seasoning packet. You won’t need it for this recipe). If you swap 4 ounces spaghetti noodles with 3 ounces Ramen noodles the smart points will not change in this recipe.

Here is what you need:

4 ounces spaghetti, cooked and drained (about 2 cups cooked)
1 pound 99% lean ground turkey
8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup sliced baby carrots
1 sliced red bell pepper
3 sliced green onions
3 minced garlic cloves
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup fat-free beef broth
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (14 ounce) can bean sprouts

Here is what you do:

Cook the spaghetti according to the directions on the package.

In a large skillet, cook ground turkey, breaking it up as it cooks.

As the meat cooks, chop and slice the mushrooms, carrots, red bell pepper and green onions. Add the vegetables  and garlic to the turkey. Cover and allow to cook until the vegetables are tender.

Once turkey is fully cooked and the vegetables are tender, stir in the cornstarch. Then stir in the broth, soy sauce, ginger, crushed red pepper, and curry powder. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.

Stir in cooked spaghetti and bean sprouts. Heat through.

Top with extra sliced green onions, if desired. Salt and pepper, to taste.

Makes 8 servings.
One serving is 1 cup.
One serving is 2 Green, 2 Blue, and 2 Purple points.

Print Recipe

Turkey Lo Mein

2 Green, 2 Blue, and 2 Purple points per serving.

Makes: 8 servings

Calories: 129

Author: Alisha Hughes

Ingredients

• 4 ounces spaghetti, cooked and drained (about 2 cups cooked)
• 1 pound 99% lean ground turkey
• 8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 cup sliced baby carrots
• 1 sliced red bell pepper
• 3 sliced green onions
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 cup fat-free beef broth
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon minced ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 (14 ounce) can bean sprouts

Instructions

• Cook the spaghetti according to the directions in the package.
• In a large skillet, cook ground turkey, breaking it up as it cooks.
• As the meat cooks, chop and slice the mushrooms, carrots, red bell pepper and green onions. Add the vegetables and garlic to the turkey. Cover and allow to cook until the vegetables are tender.
• Once turkey is fully cooked and the vegetables are tender, stir in the cornstarch. Then stir in the broth, soy sauce, ginger, crushed red pepper, and curry powder. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 2 more minutes.
• Stir in cooked spaghetti and bean sprouts. Heat through.
• Top with extra sliced green onions, if desired. Salt and pepper, to taste.