I don’t know about y’all, but where have all of the “quick” meals gone?? I finally find the perfect recipe on Pinterest (making sure it takes no longer than 45 min to make) buy the groceries, and then get to work.
Before I know it, an hour has passed and somehow I’m only 1/2 way through the recipe! I for one am sick of all those food bloggers grossly underestimating the estimated time it takes to make their recipes.
That’s why, when I find a delicious recipe that really can be made in 30 minutes, I will always shout it to the rooftops!
This recipe is based on my sister-n-law’s recipe, who has 2 little girls and no time for long recipes.
I love pasta so much, but don’t make it often at home because we usually save the pasta-eating (and extra calories) for dining out.
However, brands are finally catching on and providing us with food that is healthier in grocery stores (hallelujah!) I’m talking about gluten-free products and meats that do not have:
- artificial colors or flavors
- MSG
- By-products
One of those brands is Zatarain’s. They just came out with two new smoked sausages that keep it real, 100% pork, that is…with none of the above listed ingredients.
They offer this new smoked sausage in Cajun Style and Andouille, and since it’s already fully cooked, all you need to do is sear it in the pan.
For the recipe below, I went with Andouille since it has garlic in it, and I thought it would compliment the heaping amount of fresh garlic that goes into it. Turns out it does! But I’ll definitely be trying it with the Cajun Style next to compare the two.
And now that I’ve discovered a delish, healthy go-to sausage, I’ll be keeping a few links on hand for the upcoming BBQ weather for sure!
After making this recipe, it is officially now in my recipe repertoire for the entire season…but really it will be a simple meal to cook up year round! You could easily trade out the carrots and peas for other seasonal veggies.
Enjoy this simple and light yet cozy and comforting meal!
Ingredients:
1 full packet of Zatarain’s smoked sausage
1 box of penne pasta (gluten-free, if preferred)
1/2 lg purple onion
3 carrots
1/2 bag of frozen sweet peas
6 cloves of garlic
6 tbsp olive oil
Parmesan cheese
Green onions
Instructions:
- Boil water in a large pot.
- Dice sausage, carrots & onion.
- Mince the garlic.
- Sauté whole link (1 package) of Zatarain’s Andouille or Cajun Style in 3-4 tbsp of olive oil for about 10 min (til lightly browned on each side) then put aside. Use a big, deep, non-stick saute pan.
- If water is boiling by now, throw in pasta & cook as directed.
- In the same pan the sausage cooked in, there should be olive oil left over. Add the onion, carrots & peas to it.
- Sauté on medium until all veggies are soft. About 10-15 min.
- Add the garlic at the end and cook for one minute before adding the sausage back into the pan.
- Toss sausage back into pan with all the veggies.
- Drain pasta and add to mixture. Add another 2 tbsp of olive oil & mix well.
- Top with green onions & Parmesan shavings and serve.
This post is sponsored by Zatarain’s.
