Ziti With Sausage A Pasta Dish You Can’t Refuse

Running out of ideas for new pasta dishes? Then try this or one of the 98 other dishes from “Sicilian American Pasta: 99 Recipes You Can’t Refuse” (Ten Speed Press) by John Penza and Tony Corsi.

Ziti With Sausage And Broccoli

1 pound Italian sausage (Italian turkey sausage can be substituted)

1/4 cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced

1/2 teaspoon crushed hot red pepper

2 cups broccoli, parboiled and cut into bite-sized florets

1 pound tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped

1 pound ziti

Grated Romano cheese

Cut sausage into 1/2-inch slices and cook in non-stick skillet until done. Drain on paper towel and set aside.

Place the olive oil in a saucepan. Add the garlic and pepper. Saute over high heat until the garlic begins to brown. Add the parboiled broccoli, stirring 1 minute, to sear on all sides, then add the cooked sliced sausage and stir to mix ingredients. Add the tomatoes and stir 1 minute.

Lower the heat to a slow simmer and cook, covered, for 15 minutes or until tomatoes are soft and saucy and the broccoli is well-cooked.

Cook pasta in boiling water until tender. Drain and toss with the broccoli and sausage.

Serve with grated Romano cheese.

Yield: 6 servings.

Nutrition information per serving: 579 calories, 62 grams carbohydrate, 43 milligrams cholesterol, 541 milligrams sodium, 25 grams protein, 25 grams fat, 6 grams saturated fat.