Hearty Kale Pasta with Creamy Sweet Sausage Sauce

Ingredients

• 10 ounces of gemelli pasta for a delightful base
• A drizzle of olive oil, about 1 tablespoon's worth
• 3 links of sweet Italian sausage, casings removed, each weighing 3.5 ounces
• 1 fresh tomato, finely diced for a burst of freshness
• Half of an onion, diced to blend in harmoniously
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced to infuse flavor
• About ½ cup of low-sodium chicken broth for depth
• A bunch of kale, with its thick stems removed, and its leaves finely chopped
• Season with a pinch of salt and a grind of freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons of butter to enrich the dish
• 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour to thicken the sauce
• 1 ¾ cups of milk for a creamy texture
• Sprinkle a tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese, if desired

Step 1

Begin by bringing a large pot of water to a gentle boil with a pinch of salt added for flavor. Cook the gemelli pasta in the bubbling water, giving it an occasional stir, until it reaches that perfect al dente texture, which should take approximately 11 minutes.

Step 2

Meanwhile, in a spacious skillet over medium-high heat, warm up some oil. Toss in the sausage and let it sizzle, stirring now and then, until it turns a beautiful golden brown and is completely cooked, around 5 minutes. Introduce the tomatoes, onions, and garlic into the pan and sauté for an additional 3 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth, making sure to scrape up all the delicious browned bits at the bottom of the pan. Next, add the kale and let it cook down, giving it an occasional toss until it wilts and becomes tender, roughly 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 3

As the kale is cooking, set aside about 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining the cooked gemelli. In a separate saucepan over medium heat, melt some butter. Stir in the flour, whisking constantly for about a minute. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking vigorously to ensure a smooth consistency, seasoning with salt and pepper. Allow the mixture to bubble and thicken, which should take approximately 7 to 10 minutes. Adjust the sauce by adding the reserved pasta water as needed to achieve the desired thickness. Once ready, remove the sauce from the heat.

Step 4

Combine the creamy sauce with the sausage mixture, add the drained pasta, and toss everything together to coat evenly. Serve this delightful dish warm, garnished generously with Parmesan cheese on top.