Penne with Sausage, Chard & Pine Nuts

This simple recipe is a weeknight staple in our house. I vary the basic recipe by using escarole, Savoy cabbage, radicchio, or endive in place of the chard, and pancetta or smoked bacon in place of the sausage.


Penne with Sausage, Chard & Pine Nuts


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Servings: Serves two generously
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Ingredients
 
savings in
 
  • 1  tablespoon  olive oil; more as neededOn Sale
  • 5  ounces  sweet Italian sausage (about 2 sausage links), casings removed, meat crumbledOn Sale
  • 1  small  red onion, choppedOn Sale
  • 1  small  bunch red, green, or yellow Swiss chard, tougher stems removed, leaves roughly choppedOn Sale
  • 2  small  cloves garlic, mincedOn Sale
  •     Pinch dried red pepper flakesOn Sale
  •     Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepperOn Sale
  • 1/2  cup  homemade or low-salt chicken or vegetable broth, or dry white wineOn Sale
  • 8  ounces  dried penne or fusilliOn Sale
  • 1  tablespoon  balsamic vinegar; more to tasteOn Sale
  • 1/4  cup  pine nuts, lightly toastedOn Sale
  • 1/4  cup  grated Parmigiano-ReggianoOn Sale

Directions
1.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for cooking the pasta. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage; cook, breaking it up and stirring with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove the sausage and set aside. If the pan seems a bit dry, add enough oil so there's about 3 tablespoons fat in the pan. Return the pan to medium heat, add the onion, and cook until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes, stirring and scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Add the chard, garlic, and pepper flakes, season with salt and pepper, and toss until the chard begins to sizzle, about 1 minute. Add the broth, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the chard is tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the pasta until just tender. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and then drain the pasta, leaving drops of water clinging to it. Add the pasta and 1/4 cup of the cooking water to the skillet, using more of the water if needed. Return the sausage to the pan and add the balsamic vinegar. Heat gently for a few minutes to let the flavors meld. Add the pine nuts and half of the Parmigiano, and taste for salt and pepper. Add a bit more of the cooking water if the pan seems dry. Serve warm, passing the remaining Parmigiano at the table.

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