Cheese Ravioli with Chicken Apple Sausage and Spinach

 Cheese Ravioli with Chicken Apple Sausage, Tomatoes, Spinach, and Peppers

Cook's Notes:

Get cozy and warm with a hearty meal of Cheese Ravioli with Italian Chicken Apple Sausage and Spinach, perfect for those chilly fall evenings. A slice of Apple Cider Bundt Cake recently posted  https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2022/10/apple-cider-bundt-cake-with-brown-sugar.html will be all you need for a satisfying meal. 

Kale can substitute for spinach; there are several chicken apple sausage varieties to choose from. I used the Italian -flavored variety for this recipe. 

Recipe adapted from Food Network October 2022 and serve 2-3.

Ingredients: 

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 package fully cooked Italian-flavored chicken apple sausages, sliced at an angle 1/2 inch thick  
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 cup each of cherry tomatoes and red and yellow mini peppers
• 3 garlic cloves, diced
• 4 cups refrigerated cheese ravioli 
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 3/4 cup cooked pasta water 
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
•  3 cups spinach or kale
•  1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided and more for garnish
•  1/2 cup torn basil 
• Pinch of red pepper flakes

Directions: 

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add ravioli to boiling water and cook al dente. Drain but reserve 3/4 cup of cooking pasta water for the sauce. Return cooked pasta to pot cover to keep warm. 
• Heat olive oil and sauté sausages, peppers, and onions for 5 minutes. Add in cloves of garlic, and sauté 2 minutes more. 
• On low add in tomatoes, and cook until tomatoes soften for 2 minutes. Add in the pasta water and chicken broth, torn kale or spinach leaves, 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and butter. On medium-low cook for 3 minutes. 
• Add in cooked ravioli and cook for 3 minutes on low not covered. Add in a pinch of red pepper flakes, basil, and the rest of the Parmesan cheese. Cook 1 minute more. Serve the dish immediately with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.