Linguine with Sausage and Kale

We love having kale mixed with pasta and some spicy sausage! This recipe is adapted from one in Gourmet magazine, March 2006.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 lb hot turkey or pork sausage, casings discarded and sausage crumbled
1 bunch kale, tough stems and center ribs discarded and leaves coarsely chopped
1 lb whole-wheat linguine
2/3 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup finely grated Parmiggiano-Reggiano plus additional for serving

Directions

Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then cook sausage, breaking up any lumps with a spoon, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes.

Meanwhile, blanch kale in a 6-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, 5 minutes. Remove kale with a large sieve and drain. Return cooking water in pot to a boil, then cook pasta in boiling water, uncovered, until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta-cooking water, then drain pasta in a colander.

While pasta cooks, add kale to sausage in skillet and saute, stirring frequently, until just tender, about 5 minutes. Add broth, stirring and scraping up any brown bits from bottom of skillet, then add pasta and 1/2 cup reserved cooking water to skillet, tossing until combined. Stir in cheese and thin with additional cooking water if desired.

Serve immediately, with additional cheese on the side.

Makes 4 to 6 main-course servings.