Pasta Fagioli

One of my favorite places to find healthy recipes is on weightwatchers.com. They have a community recipe page that is filled with healthy and diet friendly recipes. I visit this site almost daily to check out the new posts. I saw this one a few weeks ago and thought I would try it. It is loaded with veggies and turned out delicious.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken sausage ( I used Italian turkey sausage)
• 32 oz chicken broth
• 16 oz Cannellini beans (I used great northern white beans)
• 4 cups fresh baby spinach
• 1 cup dry whole wheat pasta (macaroni might be a good alternate to the spaghetti I had on hand)
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 cup carrots sliced 
• 1 cup zucchini diced 
• 1 lb mushrooms sliced
• 1 tablespoon ground basil
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 14 oz diced tomatoes with green  pepper and onion
• 8 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions: 

1. In a non stick pan brown sausage with the minced garlic.
2. In a stock pot bring broth, diced tomatoes, and seasonings to a boil. 
3. Add browned sausage and garlic. (I drain mine first on a paper towel to collect excess grease. 
4. Cover and simmer for 10- 20 minutes.
5. Meanwhile cook and drain pasta.
6. Add all the veggies except spinach to the stock pot and simmer for 10- 20 minutes until veggies are tender. 
7. Add spinach and cooked pasta. Simmer until spinach is wilted.
8. Sprinkle each serving with 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese and serve.  

Nutrition Information:
8 servings at 6 weight watcher points+ value per serving.

Recipe from weightwatchers.com