Sausage, Kale and Cranberry Pasta

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

Show: 30 Minute MealsEpisode: Thanksgiving Leftovers

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (33)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(33)

Cook Time:
20 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 servings

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 20 min
Total:: 30 min

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Ingredients

1 pound rigatoni
Salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
1/2 pound hot bulk Italian sausage
1/2 pound sweet bulk Italian sausage
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
3/4 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
3/4 cup dry red wine, eyeball it
1 1/4 pounds kale, stems removed and chopped
Black pepper
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, to your taste
3/4 cup Romano cheese, 3 generous handfuls, plus some to pass at the table

Directions

Boil a large pot of water for the pasta. Add rigatoni and salt and cook to al dente or with a bite to it. Drain and reserve 2 ladles of pasta water.

While pasta cooks, heat extra-virgin olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage, brown and crumble it, then add garlic and onions and cook until tender 5 to 6 minutes. Add cranberry sauce and wine and stir to combine then reduce a minute. Add kale in bunches and stir to wilt down. Add the reserved pasta water. Season the dish with salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste.

Add pasta to the pan with sausage and kale. Top pasta with cheese and toss with kale mixture to combine. Serve immediately with extra cheese for topping.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Sausage, Kale and Cranberry Pasta
Hayley Chandler, AZ 11-09-2009
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My 2 and 3 year old ate it!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Just finished dinner and my boys and husband all got 2nd and 3rd helpings!! Got kale at the farmers market this weekend and... was looking to use it! This was perfect!!Read more
recipe Sausage, Kale and Cranberry Pasta
Amber Brookings, SD 10-02-2009
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awesome anytime!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have made this dish 3 time now, and its always better than I remember! I make almost twice as much sauce because I love it... so much! what a great recipe, wish I could find more like this!Read more
recipe Sausage, Kale and Cranberry Pasta
null null, null 05-14-2009
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Maybe my expectations were too high...
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

After reading all the reviews, I was expecting this dish to be wonderful. It didn't quite live up to the hype though. The... sweet flavor combination just didn't work for me. Also, the red wine and cranberry made my pasta turn purple which was a turn-off. The only redeeming quality was that the leftovers were better than the original dish. Next time I have fresh kale from the Farmer's Market, I'll be using it another way!Read more
recipe Sausage, Kale and Cranberry Pasta
Ryan Rochester, NY 02-03-2009
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Wow!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I was not expecting this to be as good as it was. It was excellent - really nice balance of flavors. Wasn't sweet but had... that hint of cranberry in the background. Definitely a keeper. Delicious. Wow!Read more
recipe Sausage, Kale and Cranberry Pasta
Stephanie Bradenton, FL 12-29-2008
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Different and we loved it!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

When I tried this I wasn't sure if my husband would go for such a different combo of food. Thankfully he is not a picky... eater, but this recipe was going to be a challange . For me--I'm not a fan of cranberry sauce. We both loved it!! This was also his lunch the next day. When he heated the pasta, several of his co-workers went on a search to see who had the yummy smelling lunch. He was glad I didn't send enough to share. Thanks for a different and good tasting dish. Read more
recipe Sausage, Kale and Cranberry Pasta
Krista Seattle, WA 12-19-2008
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Meh
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

Always looking for a way to add healthy kale to our meals, but sorry Rach the Cranberry just did not mesh well with this. ... Leave out the crans and go with a simple olive oil base.Read more