Kicked Up Sausage Alfredo
This alfredo dish is kicked up a notch with browned turkey sausage, spinach, and roasted tomatoes!
Yet again, let me speak on things I didn't like previously to my marriage....alfredo fits into that category. Of course, I had only ever eaten premade, store-bought alfredo sauce prior to making it myself for Nick. After my first homemade alfredo, I was hooked. I also was never big on kielbasa until I got married. But that was my mom-in-law's doing...not Nick's :)
This recipe is one I've made countless times now because it's easy and so so full of flavor. This is also the recipe that really put the nail in the coffin for Nick stomaching tomatoes. I think that's about the only thing that I've been able to get him to like that he didn't before our marriage. Mayonnaise probably isn't going to happen.
I roasted my grape tomatoes instead of just tossing them into the skillet to partially cook. It really makes all the difference. It altogether is just a wonderful recipe. I get my kielbasa a little more on the crispy brown side because I love having that crunch and smoky flavor to go along with the bursts of juicy tomato and yummy spinach in there. The savory creamy alfredo works to bring all those flavors together. It's a GREAT recipe!
What you need:
1 to 2 packages smoked turkey sausage, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 to 3 cloves minced garlic
1 lb. penne pasta
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 cup baby spinach
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Toss grape tomato halves with a little olive oil and place on a foil-lined pan. Salt and pepper to taste. Broil or bake at 350* until they "burst" open. Remove from oven and set aside.
Cook sausage slices in a large skillet over medium high heat - until they are lightly browned. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Meanwhile, cook penne pasta al dente and drain.
Add heavy cream, dry mustard, and crushed red pepper to large skillet and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low and simmer until it thickens around 4 minutes.
Add spinach and roasted tomatoes and cook until spinach wilts.
Remove from heat and mix in Parmesan cheese and pasta.
Recipe slightly adapted from TidyMom
Originally posted on Fantastical Sharing of Recipes on February 10, 2016
