Hot Italian sausage pasta

Ingredients

10 oz Hot Italian Pork Sausage

6 oz Cavatappi Pasta

4 oz Grape Tomatoes

6 oz Kale

1 Shallot

1½ tsps Calabrian Chile Paste

2 cloves Garlic

2 Tbsps Tomato Paste

2 Tbsps Mascarpone Cheese

¼ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions

1. Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Halve, peel, and thinly slice the shallot. Separate the kale leaves from the stems; discard the stems, then roughly chop the leaves. Halve the tomatoes.

2. In a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sausage. Cook, stirring frequently and breaking the meat apart with a spoon, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the chopped garlic and sliced shallot. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until slightly softened. Add the chopped kale; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until slightly wilted. Add the tomato paste and as much of the chile paste as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until thoroughly combined. Add the halved tomatoes and 1/4 cup of water (carefully, as the liquid may splatter); season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the liquid is slightly reduced in volume and the sausage is cooked through.

3. Meanwhile, add the pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 7 to 9 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly.

4. To the pan of cooked sausage and sauce, add the cooked pasta and half the reserved pasta cooking water. Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until combined and the pasta is coated (if necessary, gradually add the remaining cooking water to ensure the pasta is thoroughly coated). Turn off the heat. Stir in the mascarpone until combined. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished pasta garnished with the parmesan. Enjoy!