The truth is, I had to use up some leftover spaghetti noodles, so this quick and easy dish is the result. It's inexpensive to make, and you can pull it together in minutes with leftover noodles. The meal is full of vegetables, and with the use of whole-grain noodles, good if you're on a diabetic diet (or just want to "eat healthy). The chicken sausage is low in calories and fat as well as being economical. How does the dish taste? It's great! It's full of flavor, and the feta cheese adds a nice salty-creaminess to the dish. You won't need a lot of accompaniments to this skillet meal. A salad would be plenty. Any leftovers reheat well in the microwave and make tasty lunches later in the week. Enjoy!
Spinach-Feta-Chicken Sausage Meal With Spaghetti (Diabetic Friendly) -- Serves 4+
2 teaspoons of canola oil
4 ounces of button mushrooms, sliced (4-5 big mushrooms)
1/2 a medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
12-ounces of chicken spinach and feta sausage, sliced into rounds (the pre-cooked kind--
I use the Aldi's or Lidl's brands, which are cheaper than many)
1 cup of water
1 teaspoon of chicken base (I use reduced sodium Better Than Bullion)
1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
2 - 3 cups of cooked whole-wheat spaghetti noodles (or substitute other pre-cooked
pasta)
6 ounces of fresh spinach (half a 12-ounce bag)
1/4 cup of crumbled feta cheese
Heat the oil over medium heat in a non-stick skillet and add the mushrooms and onions to the pan. Saute the vegetables for about five minutes, or until the mushrooms and onions start to soften. Stir in the sliced sausage and saute it with the vegetables for four to five minutes. Add the water, chicken base, and garlic powder and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a low boil and let the mixture cook for 5-10 minutes or until the liquid is reduced by about half. Stir in the cooked spaghetti, then the spinach. It's easiest to stir in a handful of spinach at a time and add more spinach as the first batch wilts down. Stir in all but a little of the feta cheese, then garnish the dish with the remaining feta just before you serve the skillet meal.
