Description
A hearty and flavorful Tomato Spinach Sausage Pasta combining savory Italian sausage with fresh spinach and cherry tomatoes in a spicy tomato sauce, served over tender farfalle pasta. Quick and easy to prepare, perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Sausage and Sauce
- 1 lb (450g) Italian sausage meat (mild or spicy)
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped
- 7 oz (200g) cherry tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 1 handful fresh spinach
- 2 tablespoons tomato puree
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Pasta
- 4 servings pasta (farfalle recommended)
- Salt, for boiling water
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the farfalle pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Sauté Sausage and Garlic: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage meat and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until the sausage is mostly cooked through. Add the chopped garlic and sauté until fragrant and the sausage is fully cooked with no pink remaining.
- Add Tomatoes and Spices: Stir in the roughly chopped cherry tomatoes, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Cook the mixture for several minutes until the tomatoes begin to soften and blend well with the sausage.
- Incorporate Tomato Puree and Spinach: Mix in the tomato puree and add the fresh spinach to the skillet. Stir continuously until the spinach wilts and the sauce thickens slightly, combining all flavors.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet with the sausage and tomato sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated. Season with ground black pepper and sprinkle chili flakes to taste.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, use spicy Italian sausage or increase cayenne and chili flakes.
- You can substitute farfalle pasta with penne or fusilli if preferred.
- To make it lighter, use turkey sausage instead of pork sausage.
- Fresh spinach can be replaced with kale or Swiss chard, but adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Leftover pasta can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
