Weeknight meals can be tricky. You want to put something interesting and healthy on the table, but when time is short, takeout or a frozen meal is sometimes the more appealing option.
Here’s a meal recipe that’ll help you stick to your plans of actually fixing dinner. After all, since it only takes about 30 minutes to prepare, you might have dinner on the table before that delivery even arrives.
The best thing about cooking with sausage (other than how delicious it is) is how quickly it cooks up. The element that takes the most amount of time in this recipe is the pasta. Everything else can be prepped and cooked while the pasta boils.
RECIPE (Makes 2 servings)
4 ounces regular or whole-wheat penne
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
8 ounces smoked pork sausage, such as andouille, sliced into coins
12 ounces fresh vegetables, such as tomatoes; onion-bell pepper mix
1 heaping teaspoon whole-ground or Creole mustard
1/3 cup heavy cream, or more to taste
Salt, seasoning powder and pepper (to taste)
Cooking Directions
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne until al dente (cooked to be firm to the bite). Scoop out 1/4 cup of cooking water and then drain the noodles. Return the noodles to the pot and toss with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil.
Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the sausage and cook until some fat begins to render and the sausage begins to turn golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to the pot of noodles. Give the fat in the skillet a minute or so to get smoking-hot again, then add the vegetable mix and a sprinkle of salt, seasoning powder and pepper. Cook the vegetables until tender.
Pour the noodles and sausage into the hot skillet with the vegetables, followed by the mustard and heavy cream. Bring the liquid to a boil and cook until the cream has thickened. Taste and adjust seasonings.
For leftovers, stir in the reserved cooking water and reheat in a skillet or microwave until warmed through.
#Note; Sausage can be substituted with Shrimps if you not into sausages.
Bon Appétit!
