Truly Trattoria Pasta

This aptly named pasta is truly delicious enough to appear on your favourite Italian trattoria's menu-- but it takes only minutes to prepare with ingredients you most likely already have in your freezer and cupboard, AND it is very healthy!!
The sauce thickened from mashed beans and broth.

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (plus more if desired)
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 large, spicy or mild Italian sausage (removed from casing)-- optional, but yummy
Approximately 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1 can cannellini beans, lightly drained
Approximately 4 ounces frozen, chopped spinach
10 ounces good quality, dry pasta
Good quality Parmesan cheese

1) Set a large pot of salted water on to boil for the pasta.

2) In a large saute pan (or soup pot) set over medium heat, pour in the olive oil and add the garlic. Cook until the garlic is soft and fragrant, then add in the sausage meat, breaking it up as it cooks-- cook until still a bit pink.

3) Add in the chicken broth and the beans. Simmer for a few minutes, then mash most of the beans with a potato masher. Check if you need more broth, the sauce should be the consistency of a thick stew. Add in the frozen spinach, cover and allow to simmer and defrost, then remove the lid and stir the spinach in to the sauce. Taste-- does it need salt, maybe some black pepper or red pepper flakes? More broth, perhaps? Turn the heat down to low, keep the sauce covered and cook the pasta.

4) Drain the pasta and toss with the sauce. Drizzle a bit more olive oil if you like and serve with grated Parmesan.

Serves 4