Italian Pasta Toss
A flavor explosion of fresh ingredients tossed in to your favorite pasta. Easily made gluten free and dairy free too to suit any diet preferences.
  • CourseDinner
  • CuisineItalian
Servings Prep Time
4people 30minutes
Cook Time
30minutes
Servings Prep Time
4people 30minutes
Cook Time
30minutes
Ingredients
  • 1tbsp olive oil
  • 1tsp Sea saltfine
  • 3 Garlic clovesminced
  • 1cup Onionsdiced
  • 1 Pound Chicken Italian sausage linksSubstitute pork if you prefer and cut into 1″ chunks
  • 1cup PancettaHave deli slice 1/4″ thick then dice in to 1/4″ cubes
  • 1cup Tomatoes-grape or romachopped
  • 1/4cup Fresh basilchopped
  • 2cups Fresh spinachchopped
  • 1cup Fresh Mozzarellacut in to 1/2″ pieces
Instructions
  1. Preheat large/deep skillet over medium heat for a minute then add the olive oil and continue to preheat for another minute
  2. Add the garlic to the skillet and saute for 1 minute then add the onion and continue to saute for 2-3 minutes until the onions soften and start to brown slightly
  3. Add the pancetta and saute for 2-3 minutes then add the cut up sausage links and continue to saute 5 minutes, turning occasionally to brown the sausage on all sides. Turn heat down to low, add lid and allow sausage to cook through for 5 minutes.
  4. Remove the lid. Add the tomatoes and salt and stir. Allow to cook on low for 1 minute.
  5. Add the basil and spinach and stir while allowing to cook for 1 minute then turn off the heat.
  6. It should now be an explosion of color and fragrance!
  7. Toss in the Mozzarella cheese (or sub the goat or buffalo cheese or leave out the cheese all together). Stir it all up nicely. You can now either toss the cooked pasta or pasta alternative in to the skillet and combine or you can just serve the mixture over your bowl of pasta. Up to you!
Recipe Notes

If you do enjoy dairy, then a hearty sprinkling of Parmesan cheese on top is heavenly!

I did not include pasta instructions since some do wheat, some do gluten free alternatives, some do Zoodles (zuchinni noodles) and some spaghetti squash… so just follow your package instructions.  If doing zoodles, be sure to allow them to sit on a paper towel for about 20 minutes with a light sprinkling of salt on them so that the excess water drains out of them before you cook them in your preferred way.