Italian Sausage and Lentil Pasta
A hearty Italian-inspired pasta made with savory Italian sausage, tender lentils, tomatoes, and pasta in a rich, flavorful sauce. This rustic one-pot-style meal is comforting, satisfying, and perfect for a cozy family dinner.
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb. spicy Italian sausage crumbles
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 cup each chopped onion + celery +carrots
- 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
- 3 cups rinsed lentils
- 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup small shaped pasta
- 1/2 cup chopped Italian parsley
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start by adding the olive oil to a stock pot or dutch oven over medium high heat. Then add the Italian sausage and cook until brown, breaking it up as you go.
- Once the sausage is browned add the onions, celery, and carrots. Cook until the vegetables are soft and translucent.
- Then add in the tomato paste, chicken stock, and water bring to a boil. Lower the heat add the lentils and simmer covered for 30 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Then add in the the pasta and simmer 7-10 minutes longer.
- Add the Italian parsley. Ladle into pasta bowls . Top with additional freshly grated parmesan and Italian parsley.
Notes
Brown the sausage well before adding the lentils and tomatoes. Those browned bits left in the bottom of the pan add incredible flavor to the sauce. If using dried lentils, cook them until tender but not mushy so they maintain their texture in the finished pasta.
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