Fettucine with Garlic, Parmesan, Spinach, Mushroom, and Sausage or Yanna’s Pasta
It has been a little bit of a hiatus, and while there has been a lot going on, to keep things flowing I am keeping this post short and sweet. This pasta is something that I have enjoyed playing with and is inspired by friend’s daughter Yanna. Yes, you will have to read the post and the story to learn about why this fettucine with garlic, parmesan, spinach, mushroom and sausage is called Yanna’s pasta. It is a simple and nuanced recipe. The kinds that take you from fancy meals to busy weeknight evenings. As they say it’s all good!
The Story of Fettucine with Garlic, Parmesan, Spinach, Mushroom, and Sausage or Yanna’s Pasta
Janet is one of my oldest friends in the US. Actually, in some ways, one of my oldest and dearest friends. Ours is an unlikely friendship, and yet one that that has survived decades, children, marriages, and divorces. Probably the kind that will see us into our silver years and beyond. Janet is originally from Connecticut, although she now lives in Texas.
This summer, she came to visit family and me just at a time in my life when I needed a pick me up. We take the crazy hustle and bustle of life in the New York area for granted. It can be over whelming for people who are not used to the craziness. We had a long day of running around and wrapped it up with dinner at what used to be one of our favorite tested and tried spots. It is difficult to believe this spot is still delivering really great dependable food after almost 30 years.
While we ordered some food, Yanna my friend’s daughter was exhausted and wanted a simple plate of their homemade pasta with butter and parmesan. The waitress threw in some garlic, and what she had looked like perfection. The simplicity of the meal, the beauty of tested and tried friendship just made for an amazing day. Actually, salvaged a day that was not going in the right direction.
The Pasta
So keeping the elements of the original dish, with garlic butter and parmesan, I created this pasta dish. Honestly, it would be perfect with just the addition of the spinach, but with a bunch of other things that I had on hand, I made this about 3 times and enjoyed it a lot. Try it and you will see why. I had sausage on hand, so I used it, it is completely optional
An easy and very satisfying pasta dish, at the heart of this is garlic and parmesan.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces dried pasta like fettuccine
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 1 link of spicy chicken sausage
- A few grape tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup mushrooms
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 3 ounces of baby spinach leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt to taste
- Lots of black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the instructions in plenty of salted water.
- Heat the olive oil and butter and add in the garlic and allow the garlic to gently brown. This will take about three minutes.
- Cut the sausage into small pieces (an unwieldy dice) and add in and allow them to lightly brown.
- Add in the tomatoes and mushrooms and mix well. Add in the pasta with the parmesan and stir well.
- Add in spinach and the salt and allow the leaves to wilt.
- Add in lots of black pepper and serve.