pat's Recipe

Country-Style Rigatoni

Category: PASTA

Ingredients
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 pound mild or hot Italian sausage
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
1 head escarole, torn into 2-inch pieces (about 2 quarts)
1 cup drained and rinsed canned cannellini beans (from one 15-ounce can)
1/3 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
3/4 pound rigatoni

Directions
In a large deep frying pan, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the sausage and cook, turning, until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove. When the sausage is cool enough to handle, cut it into slices.
Put the garlic and the broth in the pan and bring to a simmer. Add the escarole, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Gently stir in the sausage, beans, Parmesan, salt, and pepper and simmer 1 minute longer.
Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta until just done, about 14 minutes. Drain and toss with the sauce. Serve with additional Parmesan.
Serves 4.

Notes
Many canned beans are overcooked during processing to the point of mush. We find, though, that the Goya company consistently delivers a nice firm bean that holds up to reheating without falling apart.