Ingredients
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1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
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1 cup frozen peas
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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½ cup chopped onion
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1 teaspoon minced garlic
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1 pound kielbasa sausage, sliced
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1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes
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1 (4 ounce) can sliced mushrooms (Optional)
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1 teaspoon white sugar
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1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar (Optional)
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1 pinch crushed red pepper, or to taste
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kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste
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3 leaves fresh basil, julienned, or more to taste
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1 cup shredded Cheddar-Monterey Jack cheese blend
Directions
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Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Stir peas into the pot during the last 2 minutes.
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Meanwhile, heat oil over medium-high heat in a deep skillet. Add onion and garlic and sauté just until tender, about 5 minutes. Add kielbasa; cook and stir until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, mushrooms, sugar, balsamic vinegar, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper. Reduce the heat and simmer until the pasta is done.
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Drain pasta, then add to the sauce. Stir to combine, then add basil. Reduce the heat to medium-low heat and cook until pasta absorbs liquid from the sauce, about 5 minutes. Stir in cheese and serve.
Tips
You can use lite kielbasa sausage instead of regular, frozen onions and jarred minced garlic instead of fresh, 3 to 4 seeded and diced fresh tomatoes instead of canned, and dried basil instead of fresh.
Use high-quality balsamic vinegar. It may seem like an odd ingredient to use, but it does add a nice flavor.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 636 | Calories |
| 30g | Fat |
| 66g | Carbs |
| 26g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 8 | |
| Calories 636 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 30g | 39% |
| Saturated Fat 12g | 59% |
| Cholesterol 67mg | 22% |
| Sodium 1084mg | 47% |
| Total Carbohydrate 66g | 24% |
| Dietary Fiber 5g | 18% |
| Total Sugars 9g | |
| Protein 26g | 51% |
| Vitamin C 11mg | 12% |
| Calcium 63mg | 5% |
| Iron 5mg | 27% |
| Potassium 540mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
