Looking for a “grate” idea? We’ve got one for you: Skip the traditional burgers and hot dogs this Memorial Day and get creative with your grilled fare.When you select the right ingredients, it doesn’t take many of them to create a fantastic dinner. Nor much time.
The trick is to pick ingredients with tons of flavor, then let them do the heavy lifting for you.
Spicy Sausage and Arugula Penne
12 ounces penne pasta
1 pound spicy Italian sausage meat
1 large yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
5-ounce package arugula
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and ground black pepper
Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking water, then drain and set aside.
In a large sauté pan over medium-high, brown the sausage meat and onion until cooked through, about 10 minutes. As it cooks, use a wooden spoon to break up the meat into bite-size chunks. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and arugula, then toss well. Add the pasta and toss until heated through and the arugula just begins to wilt.
Add half of the cheese and a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water. Toss well, adding more water if desired to create a sauce. Serve topped with the remaining cheese.
