Meatless Monday Italian Style - Orecchiette with Soy Sausage, Cannellini Beans, and Tomato

My apologies for the lack of updates recently - my husband and I just got back from a lovely trip to the North Fork. Stay tuned for photos! Until then, enjoy this simple yet delicious Meatless Monday recipe:

Orecchiette with Soy Sausage, Cannellini Beans, and Tomato

8 oz. good quality orecchiette pasta (I used Giuseppe Cocco, a high quality, upscale brand)

3 canned whole San Marzano tomatoes, plus about 1/4 cup of the juice (I used Polpa Di Pomodoro)

1/2 cup dry white wine

1-2 handfuls (about a cup) fresh spinach leaves (you can also use chard or any similar green)

1/2 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup Imagine No-Chicken broth, plus a little extra if you need it

3 cloves garlic, minced

1-2 tbs. extra virgin olive oil

1/4-1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped

Salt and ground pepper to taste

1 link (more or less if you prefer) Italian Style Smart "Sausage" or about 1/4 link Trader Joe's Soy Chorizo (casing removed) 

1 tsp. fresh rosemary leaves, chopped (optional)

Fresh Parmesan or Dairy-Free Parmesan for topping 

Prepare pasta according to bag directions. Reserve some pasta water after draining just in case the disk ends up needing more liquid.

In a pot or deep pan, heat olive oil over medium-high. Add garlic and a sprinkle of salt. Saute until just softened. Crumble the soy sausage into the pan and cook for a minute or so until it begins to brown. Add beans, half the basil, and rosemary and saute to combine the flavors. Add tomatoes, tomato liquid, broth, wine, and reduce heat to simmer for about 15 minutes. Add pasta and stir to coat. Add remaining fresh basil and spinach leaves. If you want a brother dish, add some of the reserved pasta water. Season with salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Drizzle with a touch of extra virgin olive oil and top with Parmesan or a vegan alternative.

Wine Pairing Suggestion: Andeluna 2006 Torrontes.

Foodie Facts:
According to Whole Foods Markets Annual Food Shopping Trend Tracker survey, about 27% of adults say that this year, "natural and/or organic foods comprise more than a quarter of their food purchases" - an increase from 20% last year. Additionally, 83% of people say they have a better understanding of how their food is produced than they did 20 years ago and 84% of people are reading nutrition labels more closely!