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Creamy Sausage and Spinach Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage (3-4 links)
- 1 lb Penne pasta
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh garlic, minced (3-4 cloves)
- 1½ cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1 cup half and half (also called cereal cream)
- ½ tbsp Italian seasonings
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups baby spinach (about 2 large handfuls)
- 1 cup parmesan, grated
- ½ cup Mozzarella, shredded
For the Slurry
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp cold water
Instructions
Slurry (thickening agent)
- In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and cold water together until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.
Pasta
- In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta, once cooked, but make sure to set aside half a cup of pasta water for later.
- While pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and onions, and season them with 1 tsp of garlic powder, 1 tsp of onion powder, and some black pepper to taste. Mix and allow to cook until the sausage is cooked and the onions are translucent.
- Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30-35 seconds or until fragrant.
- Remove any excess grease if needed, turn the heat to low, and slowly add the half and half and the heavy cream. Stir and make sure to scrape the bottom of the pan to release all the flavorful bits.
- Add Italian seasonings and red pepper flakes, and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and stir in the slurry. Let simmer for 4-5 minutes to allow flavors to blend and the sauce to thicken.
- Add the parmesan cheese and mozzarella, and stir until completely melted. Have a taste test to see if needs more salt and pepper and adjust to your liking. Add the spinach and keep stirring until they are wilted.
- Add cooked pasta and stir until completely coated with the sauce.
- Add some pasta water, a little at a time, until you have the desired consistency (about 1/4 cup total). The pasta water helps the sauce adhere better to the pasta and also enhances the flavors. Stir until well-coated.
- Allow pasta to sit for 2-3 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to thicken a little bit more.Serve with extra grated parmesan cheese if desired.Enjoy!
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