Lemon Pasta with Sausage and Broccoli
Ingredients
- cooking spray
- 1 pound Italian Sausage
- 1 large onion, diced
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
- 1 pound of broccoli florets
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- fresh lemon juice
- lemon zest from one lemon
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 8 oz of shell pasta
- 2 teaspoons of Italian Seasoning
- 4 cups of chicken broth
- 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
Directions
Spray a large deep skillet, like a chefs skillet, with cooking spray; heat over medium high heat then add sausage and cook, stirring often and breaking apart the sausage, until well browned
Move sausage to a bowl
Add onions to the skillet, cook stirring often until onion is soft, add garlic, pepper flakes and Italian Seasoning; cook until fragrant. Add broth and can tomatoes; bring to a boil over high heat. Add pasta; cook, stirring frequently for about 8 minutes. Add broccoli continue to cook, stirring occasionally until pasta is done to your liking and the broccoli is crisp tinder.
Stir in cooked sausage, 1/4 cup granted parmesan cheese, lemon zest and lemon juice, of half lemon, salt to taste. Garnish with tomatoes.
Serve hot with additional grated parmesan cheese
Equipment
- Measuring cups, wet and dry
- Measuring spoons dry
- Large deep skillet, like a chef’s skillet (can use a 2 quart pot as well)
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Zester
- Grater
- Bowls
- Scale, to weigh pasta
- Garlic press
- Potato masher, optional (see hint below)
Helpful Hint: I use a potato masher to cook and crumble my sausage. It does double duty and you end up with sausage that’s much smaller pieces.
Note: You can lighten this up by using Chicken or Turkey Italian sausage or even shrimp. If you use shrimp add the shrimp when you add in the broccoli and both should be done at the same time.