Description
This Tomato Spinach Sausage Pasta is a hearty and flavorful dish combining savory Italian sausage, fresh spinach, and a rich tomato sauce tossed with your favorite short pasta. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner, it balances spicy and mild flavors with nutritious vegetables and tender pasta, creating a comforting meal that’s both simple and delicious.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
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
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Pasta
- 4 servings pasta (we used farfalle)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside to prevent overcooking.
- Saute Sausage and Garlic: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage meat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until the sausage is almost cooked through and no longer pink. Then add the chopped garlic and cook for another couple of minutes until fragrant, ensuring the flavors meld beautifully.
- Add Tomatoes and Spices: Stir in the chopped cherry tomatoes along with paprika and cayenne pepper. Cook the mixture until the tomatoes soften completely and release their juices, forming a rich and flavorful sauce base.
- Finish the Sauce: Mix in the tomato puree to thicken the sauce, then add the fresh spinach. Cook until the spinach wilts down and becomes fully incorporated into the sauce, enhancing its color and nutrition.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta directly into the skillet with the sausage and tomato sauce. Toss well to evenly coat the pasta with the sauce ensuring every bite is flavorful.
- Season and Serve: Season the dish generously with black pepper and chili flakes to taste. Serve the tomato spinach sausage pasta hot for the best flavor and enjoy your delicious, homemade meal!
Notes
- Use mild or spicy Italian sausage according to your heat preference.
- Farfalles or any short pasta like penne or rigatoni works best to hold the sauce.
- Adjust cayenne and chili flakes to make the dish more or less spicy.
- Fresh spinach can be substituted with kale or Swiss chard for variation.
- For a richer sauce, you can add a splash of cream or grated Parmesan before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 710 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
