Lemony Kale and Sausage Pasta

This dish packs flavor by coating the pasta and greens in the caramelized bits from browning the onions, garlic and sausage and deglazing the pan. The lemon zest and juice and nutritional yeast balance the caramelized sweetness and elevate the dish to next level yum. Don't forget to give the pasta a few minutes in the pan with this goodness to absorb all the flavor. I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

1 pkg   Beyond Meat sausage sliced in rounds (I used bratwurst. Sub your favorite veg. sausage)
1          medium onion diced

3-4       garlic cloves minced
4 c.       kale chopped
1/2 box whole wheat rotini (Sub your favorite pasta)
1           lemon zested and juice
1 Tbls   olive oil
2 tsp     crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste)
1 tsp     garlic powder
2 Tbls   nutritional yeast
             salt and pepper to taste
1/2 c     broth or water to deglaze the pan (I used leftover mushroom broth)


Instructions

Put pasta water on to boil and cook pasta according to box.

Heat large pan (I like cast iron) to medium high and add olive oil. Sauté diced onions for 1-2 mins until start to brown. Add minced garlic, sausage slices, spices and brown for 2-3 minutes. Deglaze pan with 1/4c of liquid. Add chopped kale and let wilt for 2 minutes. Zest whole lemon and slice and juice into pan (optional: slice thin slices of lemon from the middle to garnish.) Add nutritional yeast and remaining liquid to deglaze pan. Toss cooked pasta in kale and sausage and allow pasta to absorb flavors (~2 minutes). Salt and pepper to taste. If needed, add more liquid for final deglaze. Enjoy!