How to Cook Light Pasta With Sausages & Vegetables

You can prepare a wonderful, healthy pasta dish with vegetables and sausage in no time flat. This meal is satisfying, healthy and easy to make. Adding whole-wheat pasta is a great way to incorporate extra fiber into your diet. Using fresh vegetables and turkey sausage adds to the nutritional values without adding any extra fat. The bonus is that this can be made all in one pot. Add a salad for additional vegetable goodness.

Things You'll Need

• For a recipe serving four to six people:
• One large pot (6 cups or larger)
• Water
• 1 pound pasta (preferably whole wheat pasta)
• Turkey sausage (try Italian turkey sausage for some added flavor), 4 links
• Olive oil
• Fresh vegetables:
• 3 medium yellow squash
• Small bag baby spinach
• 8 ounces of white mushrooms
• 1 medium onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• One 16-ounce can of chopped tomato
• Dried basil
• Dried oregano
• Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Fill a large pot with water and bring the water to boil. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until it is tender. Check the package for cooking directions for the pasta, but typically pasta will cook in around 10-12 minutes. Drain the pasta and set it aside to cool.

2. Rinse the pot to eliminate any extra starch. Finely chop the onion and garlic. Rinse the yellow squash and mushrooms. Slice the squash and mushrooms. Set aside the vegetables.

3. Remove the sausage from the package and slice each link into small rounds. Add one tablespoon of olive oil into the pan and heat on medium high heat. Add the sausage and cook until it is brown (about 15 minutes).

4. Add the onions and garlic and saute for five minutes. Add the squash, mushrooms, and spinach. Cook the mixture for five minutes, or until the spinach is wilted and vegetables are softened.

5. Open can of chopped tomatoes and add them to vegetable and sausage mixture. Also add in 1/2 teaspoon basil and 1/2 teaspoon oregano. Stir and cook an additional five minutes until the meal is warm and bubbly.

6. Add in the cooled pasta and stir the mixture until the pasta is well coated. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese to taste.

Tips & Warnings

• Try adding other vegetables such as green zucchini, eggplant, kale, or fresh tomatoes. There are several brands of turkey sausage that come in different flavors which can make for an interesting twist to the recipe.