Pasta with Escarole and Sausage

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs sweet Italian sausage, casings removed (or bulk sausage)
I Tbsp Racconto Chopped Garlic
1 bunch escarole; torn into bite-size pieces (about 8 cups)
1/2 cup Racconto Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1 lb Racconto Penne Lisci
1 tsp Racconto Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 medium onions, cut into small dice (about 2 cups)
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the penne and cook according to directions on the package. Drain the pasta in a colander, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water, and set aside. While the water is heating and the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a l4-inch sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onions, bell pepper, 1/2 t. salt, and black pepper, and cook until the vegetables are soft, about 4 minutes. Add the sausage and cook, breaking the pieces up with the back of a wooden spoon, until browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and escarole, and cook for 10 minutes longer. Add the cooked pasta and the reserved cooking water, and stir gently to combine. Simmer just until everything is heated through, about 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a large serving bowl. Add the cheese and crushed red pepper, and toss to combine. Drizzle with the extra virgin olive oil, and serve immediately

Total Prep Time: 40 minutes
Serves: 6