Lunch: Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Sausage and Peppers

Use mild or hot Italian sausage, according to your preference, in this updated classic. We call for red bell peppers but you can use green or one of each color. Plain spaghetti can replace the whole-wheat, too.

Ingredients

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 lb. Mild or Hot Italian Sausage
1 onion
2 red bell peppers
1 3/4 tsp. salt
3 cloves garlic
1 c. canned crushed tomatoes in thick puree
1 c. canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
2 tbsp. dry vermouth or dry white wine
3 tbsp. Chopped flat-leaf parsley
3/4 lb. whole-wheat spaghetti
2 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

In a large frying pan, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the sausage and cook, turning, until browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Remove. When the sausage is cool enough to handle, cut it into 1/2-inch slices.
Add the onion, peppers and 3/4 teaspoon of the salt to the pan. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are soft, about 3 minutes longer. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, broth, vermouth, the reserved sausage and any accumulated juices, the parsley and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a simmer.
In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the spaghetti until just done, about 12 minutes. Drain and toss with the sausage-and-pepper mixture and the Parmesan. Serve with additional Parmesan.
Wine Recommendation: The earthy Italian feel of this dish and the acidity from the tomatoes make a nebbiolo-based wine from the Piedmont region of Italy a nice choice. Look for a lighter version such as Nebbiolo d'Alba.

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