When January rolls around, most families are looking for healthful, yet hearty winter fare. This recipe for Bow-Ties with Sausage, Spinach and White Beans fills the bill, without filling you up with the high fat content of cream-based pasta sauces.
The recipe is full of vegetables, but you don’t have to spend a lot of time at the chopping board. Pre-shredded carrots can be found in most supermarket produce sections, and frozen chopped onions can stand in for fresh. Buying pre-washed spinach in bags with the prepared salad blends saves time at the sink. The pasta is a great one-dish meal, and can be accompanied with crusty French rolls and a glass of hearty red wine.
Pour in red wine, and stir with a wooden spoon, loosening up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add undrained tomatoes and simmer for 5 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium, and stir in beans, spinach, salt and pepper. Cover, and cook until spinach is wilted and beans are heated through. Toss with cooked pasta and top with grated Parmesan cheese.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
