Creamy Garlic Pork Mince Penne Pasta
Tender minced pork cooked with fragrant garlic and Italian herbs in a silky Greek yogurt and double cream sauce. Served over penne pasta for a comforting, egg-free family dinner.
Prep
10 min
Cook
15 min
Total
25 min
Makes
6 servings
Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Claire + Lila
Claire created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthSteadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
Clearer, simpler choices
Let the recipe do the thinking
Clear steps and a complete plate mean fewer decisions when focus is in short supply—and a more substantial meal once you are done.
Notice: focus + energy later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
10 min
Cook
15 min
Total
25 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Large skillet · Large pot · Knife and cutting board
Time saver
Prep the vegetables and measure pantry ingredients earlier in the day to shorten cook time.
Do these three things first
- 1Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 2Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
- 3Read through the steps once before you begin
Ingredients
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Ingredients
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Instructions
0 of 7 steps complete
Next: Bring a large pot of salted water…
- 01
Bring a large pot of salted water…
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the penne pasta and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until al dente (tender with a slight bite). Reserve 120ml (1/2 cup) of pasta cooking water before draining.
Look for: al dente (tender with a slight bite)
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Heat olive oil in a large skillet…
Heat olive oil in a large skillet or heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Add minced pork and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned with no pink remaining.
Look for: browned with no pink remaining
Tap card to mark done - 03
Turn heat down to medium
Turn heat down to medium. Add peeled and finely minced garlic cloves and dried Italian herbs to the pan with the pork, stirring continuously for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant.
Look for: fragrant
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Lower heat to low
Lower heat to low. Stir in the double cream, plain Greek yogurt, and 60ml (1/4 cup) of the reserved pasta cooking water until smooth and combined.
Look for: smooth and combined
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Gently simmer sauce on low heat for…
Gently simmer sauce on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes until thickened slightly. Do not let sauce boil to prevent yogurt from curdling.
Look for: thickened slightly
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Toss cooked drained penne pasta directly into…
Toss cooked drained penne pasta directly into the sauce, stirring well for 1 minute until evenly coated. Add additional reserved pasta water if needed to reach desired saucy consistency.
Look for: evenly coated
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Divide equally into bowls and serve warm…
Divide equally into bowls and serve warm immediately. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
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