Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage with Garlicky Broccoli Rabe and Cherry Tomatoes

Now that the holidays are past and we are finally settling into our usual routines again and thinking about the long, cold snowy winter ahead I wanted to look for some good old fashioned comforting foods. For me, that usually means anything Italian. I have lightened up the usual sausage with tomato sauce by using turkey sausage with fresh broccoli rabe and cherry tomatoes. Broccoli rabe is a slightly bitter tasting green vegetable that resembles very leafy broccoli stalks. It is a great source of dietary fiber. The blanching process reduces the bitter taste and can be done in advance if preferred. This dish has the nice balance from the bite of broccoli rabe (also called rapini) and the sweetness from cherry tomatoes along with a zing from balsamic vinegar. Heavy on the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, this dish will warm you inside and out. I hope you enjoy.

Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage with Garlicky Broccoli Rabe and Cherry Tomatoes

Ingredients:

1 large bunch broccoli rabe, about 10 cups

8 cloves garlic, sliced

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste)

1 lb. lean turkey sausage, sliced (Jenny-O brand is fine)

16 cherry tomatoes, cut in half

2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp. olive oil

Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Clean the broccoli rabe and cut about 1" off the bottom of the stalks and discard. Cut the stalks in half. To blanch the broccoli rabe place in the boiling water for about 2 minutes. Plunge the broccoli rabe into a large bowl filled with ice water. This will stop the cooking and set the color. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on paper towels to dry.

Preheat a large saute pan on medium heat and add the olive oil to heat. Add the turkey sausage, garlic and crushed red pepper flakes and saute, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is done. This should take about 10 to 15 minutes. Add the broccoli rabe, cherry tomatoes and balsamic vinegar and stir to combine. Cook another 2 to 3 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

6 Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 284.3

Total Fat 13.3 g

Saturated Fat 3.3 g

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.7 g

Monounsaturated Fat 1.7 g

Cholesterol 45.0 mg

Sodium 364.9 mg

Potassium 125.7 mg

Total Carbohydrate 14.9 g

Dietary Fiber 7.3 g

Sugars 4.6 g

Protein 19.7 g