Pesto pasta with sausage meatballs

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PREP TIME

20 min

TOTAL TIME

20 min

Makes

4 servings

Pesto pasta with sausage meatballs

Photo: Erik Putz

Sausage meatballs are your new best friend. Cheaper than beef mince and naturally seasoned, toss them with pesto pasta and your weeknight dinner is done.

Ingredients

  • 340 g spaghetti
  • 3 mild Italian sausages , casings removed
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 2 pints cherry tomatoes , halved
  • 1/2 cup store-bought basil pesto
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
  • basil leaves , (optional)

Instructions

  • Cook pasta following package directions, until tender, 7 to 8 min. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
  • Roll sausage meat into ¾-in. meatballs and set aside. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add oil, then meatballs. Cook, stirring and shaking pan often, until meatballs are golden all over and cooked through, 4 to 6 min.
  • Add tomatoes. Cook until tomatoes just start to soften, 1 to 2 min.
  • Add pasta, pesto and reserved pasta water to pan. Toss to coat. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan.
  • Divide pasta among plates. Top with more Parmesan and basil, if desired.

Make your own

For homemade pesto, combine 2 garlic cloves, 2 cups packed basil leaves, 1/4 cup pine nuts, 3 tbsp grated Parmesan, 1 tbsp lemon juice and 1/4 tsp salt in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. With motor running, slowly pour in 1/4 cup olive oil, stopping after every
2 tbsp to scrape down sides with a spatula. Measure out 1/2 cup to use in recipe and refrigerate remaining pesto in a sealed container for up to 1 week.

Nutrition (per serving)

  • Calories
  • 674,
  • Protein
  • 28 g,
  • Carbohydrates
  • 76 g,
  • Fat
  • 28 g,
  • Fibre
  • 5 g,
  • Sodium
  • 895 mg.
  • Excellent source of
  • folate

Originally published in the Today’s Parent November/December 2019 issue. Photo by Erik Putz.

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