Homemade Pork Sausage W/ Rigatoni & Baby Spinach

Flavorful, inexpensive weeknight meal. By chef Julia Jasik of Employees Only in NYC

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2  lbs ground pork
• 2  tablespoons ground cumin
• 2  tablespoons fennel seeds
• 1  tablespoon salt
• 1  tablespoon pepper
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 1  tablespoon olive oil
• 1  lb rigatoni pasta
• 1 (8 ounce) bag  Baby Spinach
• 1  pint cherry tomatoes
• 2  tablespoons butter

Directions

1. Mix spices and garlic with ground pork.
2. Heat the oil in a very large pan and sautee the ground pork for 7-10 minutes or until cooked through (leave the meat in large pieces, then break it up with a wooden spoon once it's browned).
3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta to al dente.
4. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.
5. Add the pasta and water to the pork mixture with the heat on high (you want the liquid to reduce).
6. Add spinach and tomatoes (you want the spinach to barely wilt).
7. Immediately add the butter.
8. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add some freshly grated Parmesan if you like.