Sausage, Tomato & Spinach Pasta with Parmesan

There is nothing I enjoy more than a one pot meal. My husband and I are out visiting the grandkids, and the first night my daughter served this gem she found on an app called Mealime.  There is a free version, but she uses this app so much she upgraded to the paid pro version, so this may be a pro recipe.  Fortunately I was able to get it from her.

I love the simplicity and limited ingredients, but want to remind you that the simpler the recipe, the more important to have quality ingredients.  Here the sausage is the star. My daughter found medium size, very flavorful pork sausage. You can substitute chicken, turkey or vegan meatless sausage easily, but make sure they have enough flavor to carry the dish. 

Outside of that, there isn't much to add as it is so easy to make. If you want, you can serve a nice, crisp green salad with it to up the veggie content. Bread is great too, but if you're watching carbs, then the penne pasta should be enough. 

Enjoy!

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Sausage, Tomato & Spinach Pasta with Parmesan

4 Servings

Ingredients - 

5 oz.                         Baby spinach

2                               14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes

4 cloves                    Garlic

1 oz.                          Grated parmesan cheese

10 oz.                        Penne pasta (about 3 cups)

4                                Pork Sausages (or your fav turkey, chicken, or vegan sausages

1                                Med. Yellow Onion (I always use sweet onion)

Black pepper

1/4 tsp                       Crushed red papper flakes

1 T                             Extra virgin olive oil
2 T                             Salt

1 tsp.                         Oregano

Instructions - 

Wash and dry the spinach. (Skip this step if the spinach came pre-washed.)

Fill a medium saucepan about halfway with hot water; cover with a lid and bring to a boil over high heat. When the water in the saucepan comes to a boil, uncover the pan and season the water with salt, then add the pasta and stir for a few seconds. Cook the pasta, uncovered, for 11 to 12 minutes (or according to package directions).

Trim off and discard the ends of the onion and remove the outer layer; cut the onion into ¼-inch cubes and transfer to a small bowl. Trim off and discard the root ends of the garlic; peel and mince or press the garlic. Add the garlic to the bowl with the onion.

Preheat a sauté pan over medium heat. Slice the sausages into ¼-inch-thick rounds. Once the sauté pan is hot, add olive oil and swirl to coat the bottom.

Add the onion, garlic, sausage slices, and crushed red pepper to the pan; cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and the sausage slices are browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes to the sauté pan and season with oregano, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the pasta is ready.

Serve in individual pasta bowls or on plates. Garnish with parmesan.