PORK SAUSAGE & ROASTE PEPPER PENNE in a Creamy Pink Sauce

• servings: 2
• active time: 10
• total time: 35

Ingredients

1 bell pepper

2 cloves Garlic

1 onion

6oz pork sausage mix

Penne pasta

Tomato paste

Marinara sauce

Cream cheese

Shredded Parmesan

Salt

Pepper

Cooking oil

1 tbsp butter

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Place 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) in a sma bowl; set aside to soften. Wash and dry produce. Halve, core, and thinly slice bell pepper into strips. Peel garlic; place clove in the center of a small piece of foil and cinch into a packet. Halve, peel, and thinly slice half the onion (whole onion for 4)

2. Toss bell pepper on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper. Place garlic foil packet on same sheet. Roast until bell pepper is tender and garlic is softened, 18-20 minutes. Carefully transfer garlic to a cutting board.

3. Once water is boiling, add pasta to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 9-11 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pa cooking water, then drain and set aside.

4. While pasta cooks, heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add sliced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly browned, 2-3 minutes. Add sausage; cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Stir tomato paste into pan with onion and sausage until combined, 1 minute. Slowly stir in marinara and ¾ cup plain water (1¼ cups for 4 servings). Bring to a simmer, then stir in cream cheese and half the Parmesan (save the rest for serving) until melted and combined. Season generously with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low.

6. Once garlic is roasted, mash cloves with a fork; stir into bowl with softened butter. Stir garlic butter, drained pasta, and bell pepper into sauce. If needed, stir in reserved pasta cooking water a splash at a time until pasta is coated in a creamy sauce.

Season with salt and pepper. Divide between bowls and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan.

Nutrition

• Calories: 760