Green Goddess Pasta with Sausage
This vibrant pasta dish features a nutrient-dense "Green Goddess" sauce made from blanched kale, spinach, and basil, thickened naturally with creamy cannellini beans. Paired with savory Italian sausage, it is a hearty yet fresh meal that packs a massive serving of greens into every bite.
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Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
Green Goddess Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups spinach
- 2 cups kale
- 2 cups fresh basil
- ½ yellow or sweet onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic roughly chopped
- ½ cup cannellini beans
- 1 cup fresh parmesan cheese grated
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 cup pasta water
Pasta
- 16 ounces pasta shape of your choice!
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus additional for pasta water
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Submerge the spinach, kale, and basil for 1 minute, then immediately transfer them to an ice bath using a slotted spoon. This stops the cooking process and keeps the sauce a vibrant green.2 cups spinach, 2 cups kale, 2 cups fresh basil
- Bring that same pot of water back to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water to use in your sauce before draining the pasta!16 ounces pasta
- Add the sausage, kosher salt, and crushed red pepper. Cook, breaking the meat into bite-sized pieces, until fully browned. Remove the sausage from the pan and set it aside, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound Italian sausage, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Return the skillet to medium heat (add a splash more olive oil if the pan looks dry). Sauté the diced onion and garlic for 3-5 minutes until the onions are translucent and fragrant.½ yellow or sweet onion, 2 cloves garlic
- To a blender, add the blanched greens, sautéed onion and garlic, cannellini beans, parmesan cheese, olive oil, kosher salt, and 1/3 cup of the reserved pasta water. Blend until completely smooth and vibrant. Taste and adjust salt or red pepper if needed.2 tablespoons olive oil, ½ cup cannellini beans, 1 cup fresh parmesan cheese, 1 cup pasta water, 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- Return the skillet to medium heat. Add the cooked pasta, browned sausage, and the green sauce. Toss well to coat. Pour in the remaining pasta water a little at a time, tossing constantly for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and clings to the pasta.
- Garnish with extra parmesan and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Serve warm with crusty bread and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Green Goddess Pasta with Sausage
Amount per Serving
Calories
585
% Daily Value*
Fat
32
g
49
%
Saturated Fat
11
g
69
%
Cholesterol
65
mg
22
%
Sodium
1420
mg
62
%
Carbohydrates
62
g
21
%
Sugar
4
g
4
%
Protein
34
g
68
%
Vitamin A
7850
IU
157
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.