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Cheese Pasta with Turkey Sausage and Basil Recipe

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4.2 from 11 reviews

A creamy and flavorful cheese pasta sauce made with high-protein chickpea pasta, cottage cheese, tomato passata, and turkey sausage, enhanced with fresh herbs and Parmesan. This dish offers a nutritious and comforting meal, ready in just 25 minutes, perfect for a wholesome weeknight dinner.

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

Pasta and Sauce

  • 10 oz chickpea pasta (or your favorite high-protein pasta)
  • 2 cups cottage cheese
  • 1 cup tomato sauce (passata)
  • 6-8 fresh basil leaves

Meat and Aromatics

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion (finely diced)
  • 2 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
  • 3/4 lb turkey sausage (cut into bite-size pieces)

Finishing Touches

  • 1/3 cup Parmesan (grated)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (finely chopped)
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the chickpea pasta until al dente according to the package instructions. Reserve 1-2 cups of the pasta cooking water before draining.
  2. Prepare Cheese Sauce: While the pasta cooks, combine the cottage cheese, tomato sauce, and fresh basil leaves in a blender. Blitz until smooth and set aside.
  3. Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and chopped garlic, sautéing for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and softened.
  4. Cook Sausage: Add the turkey sausage pieces to the skillet. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is browned and cooked through to your liking.
  5. Combine Sauce: Pour the blended cottage cheese sauce into the skillet with the sausage mixture. Stir and allow the sauce to heat through gently for a couple of minutes.
  6. Add Pasta: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss thoroughly to combine with the sauce and sausage. If the sauce looks too thick or dry, add some reserved pasta water gradually to loosen it.
  7. Finish and Serve: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped parsley. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately, optionally topped with extra Parmesan.

Notes

  • Chickpea pasta adds a boost of protein and fiber compared to regular pasta.
  • You can substitute turkey sausage with chicken sausage or plant-based sausage for different dietary preferences.
  • If you don’t have fresh basil, dried basil can be used but reduce the quantity to 1 teaspoon.
  • Reserve pasta water is key to adjusting sauce consistency for a silky texture.
  • This recipe can be made gluten free by ensuring the pasta and sausage used are gluten free.
  • Author: Olivia
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian-inspired
  • Diet: Low Fat

Find it online: https://yourdailycook.com/cheese-pasta-with-turkey-sausage-and-basil-recipe/