Italian Sausage Marinara with Penne

Name: Italian Sausage Marinara with Penne
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 8 servings.
Cuisine: Europe, Italian
Ingredients: 1 package (19-1/2 ounces) Italian turkey sausage links, cut into 1/2-inch slices; 3 small zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch slices; 1 medium sweet yellow pepper, julienned; 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1/2 cup dry red wine or reduced-sodium chicken broth; 1 can (28 ounces) Italian crushed tomatoes; 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained; 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 4-1/2 teaspoons Louisiana-style hot sauce; 3 teaspoons Italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 4 cups uncooked whole wheat penne pasta

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. Cook: 1 hour YIELD: 8 servings.

Fill your house with the warm, wonderful aroma of this rich, bold-flavored sauce. It’s my first original recipe and a family favorite from the start. We love its zesty blend of veggies and Italian turkey links. —Teresa Kriese, Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Ingredients

1 package (19-1/2 ounces) Italian turkey sausage links, cut into 1/2-inch slices
3 small zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 medium sweet yellow pepper, julienned
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup dry red wine or reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 can (28 ounces) Italian crushed tomatoes
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4-1/2 teaspoons Louisiana-style hot sauce
3 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 cups uncooked whole wheat penne pasta

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven, saute sausage until no longer pink; drain. Remove and set aside. In the same pan, saute the zucchini, pepper and mushrooms in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add wine, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan.
2. Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, cheese, hot sauce, Italian seasoning, sugar and salt. Stir in sausage. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour or until slightly thickened.
3. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Serve with sauce.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup sauce with 1 cup pasta: 441 calories, 12g fat (2g saturated fat), 44mg cholesterol, 991mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 8g fiber), 24g protein.