This skillet dish turned out even better than I expected. Don't you just love it when that happens? It's also pretty easy to put together. Other than steaming some cauliflower and boiling the pasta, it all cooks together in one skillet. Really doesn't get much simpler than that.
Sausage and Brussels Sprouts pasta does take a little bit of multitasking during the prep time, but I'll walk you through it. Also, feel free to omit or change some of the veggies. What I used was just what I had on hand, other than the brussels sprouts.
Heat about a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet. Lightly brown the sausage. My sausage was precooked, so this didn't take long at all. You just want a nice sear on the meat. Add the butter to the skillet, then add the onions when the butter is melted. Cook the onions until translucent. While you're browning the sausage and cooking the veggies, set your cauliflower to steam, and get the water boiling for the pasta.
Next, add the tomatoes, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and turmeric to the skillet. Give everything a good stir to combine the spices, and sauté for about 2-3 minutes.
Slice up the steamed cauliflower while the tomatoes and spices are simmering. Add the cauliflower, brussels sprouts, peas, and spinach to the skillet, stirring all ingredients together. Turn down the heat to medium-low and cover. Stir every few minutes as the brussels sprouts cook down.
Meanwhile, your pasta should be boiling. Drain and rinse the pasta, then add to the skillet. Top with ¼ cup parmesan cheese, and stir all ingredients together. Serve hot, with or without a side dish. We opted to just load up our bowls and simply enjoy as is.
Sausage and Brussels Sprouts Pasta
I love the mixture of flavors in this pasta. Feel free to substitute any veggies you have on hand. Cabbage would also work in place of the brussels sprouts.
Ingredients
- 1 package chicken sausage (I used Trader Joe's Smoked Apple Chardonnay.)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 8 ounces organic brown rice penne pasta (I like Trader Joe's brand.)
- 10 ounces shaved brussels sprouts (You can buy them preshaved at Trader Joe's.)
- 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup frozen organic peas
- 1 cup frozen spinach (Fresh would also work fine.)
- 1 cup cauliflower, lightly steamed
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Himalyan pink salt, or to taste
- 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, fresh grated
Instructions
- Prep the cauliflower to steam. I simply use a steamer basket in a large, coverered sauce pan. When the cauliflower begins to steam, turn off the heat, let set for about 3 minutes, then remove from the basket.
- While waiting for the cauliflower, slice the sausages in half lengthwise, then cut into bite size pieces. Mine were about ½ inch thick.
- Slice the onion into about ¼ inch thick slices.
- Drizzle about a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil into a large skillet, and turn your burner to medium-high, about 7 on my stove.
- While the oil is heating, fill a pot with water to boil for the pasta. I always add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to avoid clumping.
- Add the sausage to the skillet, and heat until lightly browned. (The Trader Joe's brand I used is precooked, so this doesn't take long.)
- Add the ¼ cup unsalted butter to the skillet. Once the butter is melted, add the onions, and cook until translucent, stirring occaisionally.
- Did you turn the cauliflower off? Remove it from the steamer basket to cool.
- When the onions are translucent, add the tomatoes, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and turmeric. Stir well to combine the spices. Sauté for 2-3 minutes.
- Slice the steamed cauliflower while the tomatoes are cooking.
- Add the brussels sprouts, peas, spinach, and cauliflower to the skillet, stirring all ingredients together. Turn the heat down to medium-low, and cover the skillet. Stir every few minutes as the brussels sprouts cook down.
- Meanwhile, your pasta should be boiling. I prefer mine al dente, but cook to your taste. When the pasta is cooked, drain, rinse, and add to the skillet with the veggies and sausage. Sprinkle ¼ cup parmesan cheese over the top, and stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Serve hot, with or without a side. Between the pasta, all the veggies, and the sausage, we just filled our bowls and enjoyed.
Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 273Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 35mgSodium 560mgCarbohydrates 29gFiber 6gSugar 4gProtein 11g
Note: Nutritional information is an approximation. Different brands and/or quantities will change the nutrition profile.
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