Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Peppers, Chicken Sausage and Goat Cheese

Recipe developed from Zoe Singer (Fitness Magazine)

I love sausage and peppers on a hoagie roll.  Who doesn't?  Well, except if your vegan, but I am sure they can come up with a great alternative to sausage.  Well, my family loves their meat, so this is a healthier alternative to the real deal.  I must tell you it is delicious.  I will definitely be making this and putting it on a hoagie.   What I love about this recipe is few ingredients and very little prep and cooking time.  Next time, I plan on doubling the peppers and sausage, cook them, reserve the other half and make a Sausage and Pepper Pizza later on in the week.  I am a big fan of morphing meals.  It is a big time saver when you are a working Mom and trying to get a home-cooked meal on the table.

Prep time 15 minutes

Cook time 25 minutes

Makes 4 servings

12 oz. whole wheat spaghetti

1 1/2 T. olive oil

1 sweet Italian chicken sausage or turkey

   remove casings and crumble

1/2 red onion

4 bell peppers (one red,  green, orange and yellow) cored and sliced

1/2 jalapeno, seeded and minced (optional)

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese

Black Pepper

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the spaghetti.  Cook per package instructions until

al dente, then drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water.

2.  Meanwhile, heat 1/2 T. of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the sausage and saute', crumbling it with a spatula, until brown, about 5 minutes.  Transfer to a plate. 

3.  Pour off any fat, then heat the remaining olive oil in the pan.  Add the onion and cook, stirring, for 1 minute, then add the bell peppers and, it desired, the jalapeno.  Cook over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, until the peppers are soft and beginning to brown, 15 minutes.  Stir in the vinegar.

4.  Add the drained pasta and reserved cooking water to the pan and toss over the pasta with goat cheese.  Season with black pepper and serve.

If you would like to save on carbohydrates, I often buy Dreamfields Pasta which is really delicious and low carb.