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Penne Rigate with Spicy Sausage and Zucchini in Tomato Cream Sauce
 
recipe image
Prep Time: 0 Minutes
Cook Time: 0 Minutes
Ready In: 0 Minutes
Servings: 1
Use cauliflower or roasted peppers if you don't like zucchini.
Ingredients:
8 ounces uncooked penne rigate pasta
6 ounces hot turkey italian sausage, casings removed
12 ounces zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
dash of sugar
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 (28-ounce) can no-salt-added whole tomatoes
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
cooking spray
3 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided (about 3/4 cup)
1 ounce parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated and divided (about 1/4 cup)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain; set aside.
3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage to pan, and sauté for 5 minutes or until browned, stirring to crumble. Using a slotted spoon, remove sausage from pan. Wipe drippings from pan with a paper towel. Add zucchini to pan; sauté 3 minutes or until crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Add oregano and next 4 ingredients (through sugar); sauté 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add vinegar; cook for 30 seconds or until the liquid evaporates. Drain tomatoes in a sieve over a bowl, reserving 1 cup tomato liquid. Crush tomatoes with hands, and add to zucchini mixture. Add reserved 1 cup tomato liquid; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat; stir in cream. Add pasta and sausage to tomato mixture; stir to combine.
4. Spoon half of pasta mixture into an 11 x 7-inch glass or ceramic baking dish, or divide half evenly among 4 individual dishes coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle 1 ounce mozzarella and 2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano over pasta. Top with remaining pasta mixture; sprinkle evenly with remaining 2 ounces mozzarella and remaining 2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until browned and bubbly.
5. Wine Match: Highlight the acidic tomatoes and tame the spice with a McManis Family Pinot Grigio ($10), or pull out the earthy, meaty sausage and herb flavors with a Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo ($10). -Gretchen Roberts
By RecipeOfHealth.com