Turkey Sausage & Arugula Pasta
The cheese in this dish is the key to the balance of flavors. For the biggest impact, make sure to use imported Italian cheese.
Ingredients:
12 ounces whole-wheat short pasta, such as shells or twists
8 ounces hot Italian turkey sausage links, removed from casings
3 cloves garlic, chopped
8 cups arugula or baby spinach
2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup finely shredded Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese, plus more to taste
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
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Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta until just tender, 9 to 11 minutes, or according to package directions.
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Meanwhile, cook sausage in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, arugula (or spinach) and tomatoes. Cook, stirring often, until the greens wilt and the tomatoes begin to break down, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; cover and keep warm.
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Combine 1/2 cup cheese, pepper and salt in a large bowl. Measure out 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid; drain the pasta. Whisk the cooking liquid and oil into the cheese mixture; add the pasta and toss to combine. Serve the pasta topped with the sausage mixture and an extra sprinkle of cheese, if desired.
Makes 6 servings, generous 1 1/2 cups each.
Per serving: 352 calories; 11 g fat (3 g sat, 2 g mono); 30 mg cholesterol; 45 g carbohydrate; 20 g protein; 7 g fiber; 520 mg sodium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (30% daily value), Fiber (26% dv), Vitamin C (20% dv), Calcium (15% dv).
B-man 