I feel very blessed this summer. My deck is full of potted herbs and they are flourishing, even harder to grow herbs like parsley and dill. I’m growing lavender, thyme, sage, rosemary, mint, parsley, basil, dill, and oregano.  Four of these herbs (rosemary, oregano, thyme and sage) will stay around all year.

Parsley will not and I will be making plenty of chimichurri sauce for skirt steak, chicken and even fish.

What is chimichurri sauce?

It’s a herb-based, non-cooked sauce made with parsley, dried oregano, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, vinegar and or lemon juice, red chili flakes, salt and pepper.  It is the perfect combination of fat, salt, acid and heat with herbs for more flavor.

Chimichurri sauce finds its roots in Argentina and is served throughout South America as a condiment.  There are various stories as to how it got its name, but most likely created for their grilled meats. There is also a Sicilian version that is used mostly for seafood, and sometimes is made with the addition of capers. However, like pesto, it can be used for other meats such as chicken and lamb. It can also be used as a marinade.

How do make chimichurri?

The typical recipe is very finely chopped parsley, oregano, olive oil, lemon juice, finely chopped garlic, splash vinegar, red chili flakes, salt and pepper.  You can use fresh oregano as I did or mix in other herbs such as thyme or cilantro. The main idea is fresh herbs, olive oil and acid to spoon over food, mainly meats. If making for fish, add in some capers and lots of lemon zest.

Is chimichurri a marinade?

While chimichurri is most often served with cooked meats, it makes an excellent marinade, due to the combination fat, acid and salt, which helps to break down the meat and tenderize it. Sometimes I replace the lemon with lime juice if using as a marinade and skip the vinegar.

How do you serve chimichurri?

Simply serve on top of grilled meats or as a side sauce. Meats, fish and even  roasted potatoes would be amazing with chimichurri sauce. Try chimichurri sauce on your kebabs or beef/steak tacos.

Can you freeze chimichurri sauce?

You can freeze chimichurri sauce the same way you freeze pesto. Put in ice cube trays. Once frozen, place in plastic bags, up to three months. Allow to defrost before using.

What is Skirt Steak?

The skirt steak is the diaphragm muscle, a long flat cut of meat, which is chewy, but flavorful. It’s similar to a flank steak, but has more fat. It is THE cut of meat used for authentic fajitas and perfect with chimichurri.

A chimichurri marinade/sauce is perfect for this cut of meat, as the olive oil and acid from the lemon and vinegar act as a tenderizer, and the garlic and parsley deliver flavor.

How to Grill Skirt Steak

Chimichurri is perfect for skirt steak, flank steak and teres major, all less expensive cuts of meat. We grill our skirt steak quickly about 4 minutes per side and then allow to rest for five minutes before cutting across the steak on the bias. It’s a chewy, flavorful steak, but not tough.  Flank steak is another choice, which is a little more tender but not as flavorful.

More Steak Recipes from Spinach Tiger

• How to Make a Perfect New York Strip Steak (our most popular post)
• Teres Major, a Filet Knock-off
• Teres Major Tacos

More Herb Based Condiments/Sauces from Spinach Tiger

• Mint Pistachio Pesto
• Pistachio Pesto
• Basil Pesto
• Gremolata
• Walnut Pesto with Seven Herbs

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Chimichurri with Grilled Skirt Steak

Make this delicious South American Condiment and Grilled Skirt Steak

Course Entree

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Resting Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

Skirt Steak

• 1 pound skirt steak
• 1/4 cup chimichurri for marinade

Chimichurri

• 2 cups fresh Italian parsley finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh oregano or thyme Can sub with pinch dried oregano
• 1 lemon zested and juiced
• 3/4 cups extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 pinch red chile flakes
• sea salt
• black pepper
• 3 cloves garlic minced

Instructions

Chimichurri

• Finely chop parsley, fresh oregano (or thyme) and garlic.
• Zest lemon onto the herbs.
• Juice lemon.
• Add all ingredients to olive oil.
• Season with salt and pepper
• Make chimichurri at least an hour in advance. Use a few tablespoons of this to marinate the skirt steak.

Grill Skirt Steak

• Turn grill on to about 400 degrees.
• Grill each side for four minutes to a medium rare.
• Allow meat to rest five minutes.
• Cut across the bias. Arrange in platter.
• Top with chimichurri.
• Season again with salt and pepper as needed.

The post How to Make Chimichurri Sauce – How to Grill Skirt Steak appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

A few of my favorite easy spring asparagus recipes include a soup, a side, and an entree.

Asparagus isn’t just for good looks and taste. Asparagus is highly anti-inflammatory. If you’re not familiar with what inflammation can do in your body, it’s not a pretty picture. It’s the root cause of many cancers and chronic diseases. In fact, many chronic diseases can be reversed into remission if we go on the attack with big fat healthy food that fights inflammation, like asparagus.

The benefits of asparagus go well beyond anti-inflammation, with cancer fighting properties and will act as a natural diuretic.

Asparagus Recipes

These are not the only asparagus recipes on this blog, but a few that are great for this time of year.

• Asparagus Soup
• Chicken Asparagus Stirfry

Asparagus with Eggs

• Asparagus Quiche (almond flour crust)
• Asparagus with Poached Eggs (I first had this in Rome)
• Asparagus Ricotta Fritatta

Thomas Keller Asparagus as a Side

I had this asparagus with gremolata as one of the sides at a Thomas Keller restaurant. To be honest, this dish was my favorite part of the delicious fried

Asparagus can play a major role in your entrees.

• Lamb Chops with Asparagus
• Chicken Asparagus Stir fry
• Spaghetti with Chicken and Asparagus

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The post Easy Spring Asparagus Recipes appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

I am republishing this 20 minutes RECESSION DELICIOUS recipe (initially posted in 2012) because grocery prices are crazy right now. This is fast, delicious and can be altered.  We love this ground peas and peas just as is, but you can add in pasta, potato or rice.

One day in the past, I stumbled upon a video of a 91-year old Italian-American grandmother, cooking pasta and peas just the way her mother cooked them nearly every night for her family during the depression.

She used an onion, a potato, and a can of peas,…. all items that didn’t need refrigeration and cost mere pennies.

This took me back to a year ago when I attended a pot luck at the Italian Club in Nashville. Someone had brought this dish that I couldn’t stop eating.

It was a sauté of ground beef, peas, onions, and olive oil. Out of all the things I could have treated myself to, this dish took my plate back for three helpings.

I am not hear to talk about socio-economic times, discuss politics or to depress you. I’m not a complainer, but I am a dreamy realist. I see the world through food. (that statement was written in 2009 during the recession, and here we are today in 2024), in strange times for different reasons.

Can I be brutally honest with you?  While I count my blessings every day to have a warm bed and good food to eat, I am in sticker shock every time I go to the grocery store.  I shop daily because it’s convenient for me. I can walk to my local Publix and I make myself walk almost daily to the Whole Foods (3.5 miles one way).

I try to choose grass fed beef which is healthier, but let’s face it, at $8 a pound, sometimes I choose something else.

As a food blogger, I probably do cook in my kitchen more than most and am acutely aware of how the prices have gone up. I’m also aware of how diseases related to fast food are on the rise, and how families no longer sit at the table the way they probably did for that Italian grandmother.

Ground Beef and Peas is Budget Friendly

If we need to adjust our budget (and we do), my first concern is my food budget.  What do I need to sacrifice?

That’s why I have easy, healthy, real food choices, that are fast, and practically brainless.

The grandmother in the video made me think of my grandmother, who lived through the depression, but was like me, in that she liked good food good. And, she knew how to make a five minute meal taste like a new culinary invention.

Today is my grandmother’s birthday. She would be 105 years old. She would still be cooking the exact same way…healthy, flavorful, uniquely fast, perhaps influenced a bit by the depression. Don’t try to picture the little Italian grandmother standing at the stove for hours cooking for her family.

My grandmother owned her own beauty salon, and cooked exactly once a week on Sunday night, only after all her clothes and sheets were pressed, and her newspapers were read. She was a rare beauty that never stepped foot in town in a “uniform.” She was a fashionista, donning heels, hat and gloves and threw her curvy body on a bus every day to get to down town, making a scene as if the paparazzi were following her.

Her allure and charm weren’t cut out from her Sunday night quick fires. Everything she made was authentic, such as spinach fritters, chicken and olives, or crabs and spaghetti, but it was fast, quick, earthy and a bit sexy, always hitting the senses with a surprise.

Italian Ground Beef with Peas and Onions from an Italian Grandmother

There would be lecture that “americanos” pronounced “ameriganos” don’t know how to eat. I look at their skin and I can smell their hair and know the garbage they are eating. But, you my Angela (pronounced Ahngela) have a grandmother that knows about food. Just look at me and you can see that I eat right.” Yes, she said that.

Since her day, the American diet has changed in that on one hand it has gotten worse, and on the other hand it has gotten much better. There are two different kinds of kitchens cooking (or microwaving) in America today. I’m grateful my grandmother Rose Dee (mother of Retro Rose) pointed me in her direction and never owned a microwave.

How to Make Ground Beef with Peas and Onions

Ground beef with peas and onions may not exactly be a “depression” dish, but perhaps a bit reminiscent of the peas and pasta dish that blanketed many Italian Americans during the true depression era and even my grandmother’s table.

A sauté of peas and onions is very Italian. You must use olive oil for the right flavor and a good sea salt and freshly cracked pepper. Simplicity always requires great ingredients. Peas and onions are good alone, or combined with rice or with potatoes, but with ground beef, it’s dinner.

I will not tell you to mix three kinds of ground meat together to make it more “foodie” or to pretend this is restaurant fare. It’s not. It’s meant to be Sunday night home cooking.

You can use whatever ground meat you desire, even ground lamb would be quite tasty, but this is just ground beef and not extra lean. You want good (I mean animal-treated right) good, ground beef that has some fat in it, because that is where the taste is.

Ground Beef Ideas from Spinach Tiger

I would eat this any time, though because it’s just good food and so would you. Don’t you dare call it hamburger helper or ground beef casserole or I will come and put tape over your mouth and eat this in front of you. It’s rustic, but that doesn’t mean it’s a compromise.

It’s good food, in fact, it’s delicious food that will stretch your budget and your view of ground beef and what fast and affordable can be. Just serve with a nice loaf of crusty bread to sop up the juices, and don’t forget that glass of red wine.

Here is a different version of this recipe, with added greens.

More Ground Beef Recipes from Spinach Tiger

• Hamburger Steaks 
• Burger Steak Recipe with Mushroom Sauce
• No Beans Chili
• Ground Beef Taco Meat
• Eggroll in a Bowl
• Ground Beef and Cabbage Decontructed
• Stuffed Cabbage with Ground Beef
• Ground Beef Cabbage Stir Fry
• Picadillo

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Recession Delicious – Italian Ground Beef, Peas and Onions

An easy delicious way to eat ground beef with an Italian twist, green peas, onions.

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 1 large white onion diced
• 1 pound ground beef seasoned with salt and pepper
• 1 – 2 cups frozen peas
• olive oil
• 1 teaspoon butter
• red chile flakes
• freshly grated parmesan or pecorino optional
• fresh herbs mint, parsley, basil, oregano, thyme…they all work

Instructions

• Heat olive oil and butter. Add onions, saute until soft.
• Add ground beef that has already been flavored with salt and pepper. Cook until medium rare.
• Add in frozen peas, right at end and allow them to defrost and heat up, while the meat is on its way to medium-well done. Toss in fresh herbs, red chile flakes. Season to taste.

Notes

This is an EASY recipe. You may be tempted to keep adding other ingredients, but the simplicity is what gives this dish it’s proper structure and flavor. More is not always more.

The post Italian Ground Beef, Peas and Onions appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

Italian sausage will find itself in appetizers, breakfast, lunch and dinner, but we especially love the Italian sausage meals we have come to love and I’ve added more sausage recipes here so there are more than 15.

Creamy Sausage Ragu

This is one of my newer recipes that I made for the twins’ lunch before they ventured a big bike ride. Not a bite left.

Stovetop Sausage and Peppers

Sausage Crusted Three Cheese Pizza (Low Carb Delish)

Baked Italian Sausage with Broccoli Rabe

This is one of the Italian Sausage Meals that my husband loves the most. Broccoli rabe marries the flavors of Italian Sausage so well, and you will see this repeated pairing in many recipes.

Italian Sausage Lentil Soup

Italian Sausage Ricotta Frittata

This is how we celebrate holiday mornings, but it’s also wonderful for lunch or dinner. Italian sausage, greens, and a dollop of ricotta.

No Beans Chili with Italian Sausage and Ground Beef

My husband makes the best chili and since I don’t eat beans, he developed a fantastic no-beans recipe just for me, and it has Italian Sausage.

Italian Sausage with Cauliflower and Spinach in Air Fryer

This is such a fun, easy, dinner that can be made in a sheet pan, fryer, or stir fried.

Orecchiete with Broccoli Rabe and Italian Sausage

This is a classic Italian dish made with a special shaped pasta and takes full advantage of this great pairing of flavors.

Italian Sausage, Mozzarella Stuffed Biscuits

This is the all in one delicious Italian sausage biscuit.

Spicy Italian Soup with Italian Sausage

I made this soup about every other month because it has all the good things like cabbage and tomato broth,  and especially the flavor driven from Italian sausage.

Italian Roasted Chicken Thighs with Sausage and Peppers

The one pot, Italian chicken dish only made better with links of Italian sausage.

One Pot Chicken and Italian Sausage with Greens and Beans

Beans, greens, broth, chicken, and of course, Italian sausage makes this one hearty meal.

Keto Sausage Crusted Pizza with Broccoli Rabe

This clever idea for no-dough pizza has made us both so happy, and is our new Friday night dinner.

Spaghetti Squash with Italian Sausage

Spaghetti Squash topped with Italian sausage, mushroom, cream, and sage is hearty, healthy and a bit umami.

Three Cheese Italian Lasagna

Oh my goodness, who wouldn’t love this dish? Filled with spaghetti squash, meat, cheese and a lovely quick tomato sauce.

Italian Eggplant Soup with Italian Sausage

Chicken with Italian Sausage and Muscadine Grapes

When Autumn rolls around, you will see muscadine grapes and now you know what to do with them.

Sheet Pan Pizza with Italian Sausage and Trader Joe’s Pre-Made Dough

You can now see just how versatile Italian sausage is. What’s your favorite way to eat it?

The post 15 Italian Sausage Meals Your Family Will Love appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

We absolutely love bolognese, an Italian meat sauce that is cooked very slow on low heat for several hours.

Served with tagliatelle or paparadelle, (wide flat egg noodles), it is the comfort food of all comfort foods. In our house, it disappears fast, and this particular pot of bolognese got rave reviews from the twins who ate bolognese all over Italy. My Homemade Pasta recipe is here.

This is almost the same recipe as this authentic bolognese recipe from Marcella Hazan. It’s still begins with carrots, onion and celery, but we really caramelize the soffrito in this recipe. It still contains milk and white wine, (not red), but everything is added in a different order.

Pancetta is an important ingredient. It isn’t something I can always easily find in my area, and I decided to add my own twist by adding peppered uncured salami from Boar’s Head. This might seem odd, but once chopped very find, and fried, it nearly disappears into the sauce, but not without leaving an added layer of flavor. Did I lose you? I hope not.

Another thing I added to this was chicken stock. You could also use beef stock. The stock helps to thin the bolognese out when it gets too thick, keeping in mind that it has a small amount of tomato sauce and can dry out.

Bolognese can be used for other recipes such as lasagna, crepes, polenta or risotto.

What is Bolognese?

Bolognese is a meat sauce, simmered for hours, made with, soffritto, ground meat, milk, wine and and little bit of tomato. My new recipe adds chicken broth. Additionally you can add pancetta and a dash of nutmeg.

What Kind of Pot Should I Cook Bolognese?

A heavy pot that retains heat, like an enameled cast iron. My favorite is this pot from Le Creuset.

What Meat Should I Use for Bolognese?

You have options here. The best cut of beef is ground chuck, but you can certainly mix ground pork and beef or veal and beef. If you use pork, use 2 parts beef, 1 part pork and make it a fatty pork. All of these combinations work. I would not use ground turkey or ground chicken.

How Long Should I Cook Bolognese?

Cook bolognese on the lowest heat for a long time, no less than 3 hours, making sure it does not dry out. You can use broth or a little water as needed.

Can You Make Bolognese in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, but first you must cook the ingredients on top of the stove. Once you are at the final step and ready to simmer for hours, you can transport your bolognese to a slow cooker. Cook on very low for as long as 6-8 hours if you have the time.

Do You Need to Use Wine in Bolognese?

Wine is one of the main components to push flavor in bolognese. Keep in mind that the alcohol will burn off. If you want to skip the wine, add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the sauce, once you are ready to simmer, and replace the amount of liquid with more broth. Use white wine not red wine which brings a brightness to the dish.

Is Milk Necessary in Bolognese?

Milk is one of the main ingredients of bolognese as it breaks down the connective tissues of the ground beef and acts as a tenderizer. If you do skip, use a very fatty ground beef, or a combination of beef and veal. If you are using veal, use less milk.

Can I Make Bolognese without Tomatoes?

Yes, it’s actually called White Bolognese. We had white bolognese in Montepulciano. The recipe will include the soffritto (carrots, onion, celery) white wine, chicken stock, butter and heavy cream. I plan on making a recipe soon.

What Pasta Goes Best with Bolognese?

The typical pasta for bolognese is tagliatelle, or paparadelle. Make sure you use a bronze cut pasta if store-bought. You can also use a rigatoni macaroni.

What Wine Pairs well with Bolognese?

Although, I use only white wine in the sauce, we drink red wine with the meal. We like a good rich red like Chianti Classico or Sangiovese. Cabernet works well too.

Should Cheese Be Added?

There are no shoulds when it comes to grated cheese, except that either pecorino romano or parmesan should be freshly grated at the table. We like Pecorino best; it’s tangy and salty.

Can You Freeze Bolognese?

Yes, so make a double batch and freeze up to three months.

Is Bolognese Really Italian?

Bolognese comes from Bologna and is served throughout Italy. We ate bolognese in Rome, Lucca and White Bolognese in Montepulciano.

What’s the Difference between Bolognese and Ragu?

Some will say no difference. I differentiate ragu from bolognese in my recipes from the time it takes to cook. For example, my sausage ragû is a meat sauce that I make quickly.

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Variations on Bolognese

• Peach and Pork Bolognese
• Spaghetti Bolognese with Pork
• Italinan Sloppy Joe’s Bolognese
• Marcella Hazan’s Bolognese

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New Red Bolognese Recipe

Bolognese Recipe with All Your Bolognese Questions Answered

Course Entree

Cuisine Italian

Keyword Bolognese

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 4 hours hours

Total Time 4 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Author Angela Roberts

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 tablespoons butter plus 2 T for tossing pasta
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 1 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1 1/2 cup chopped carrot
• 2 pounds ground beef chuck mixed with salt and pepper before cooking
• 8 ounces pancetta See notes
• black pepper freshly ground
• salt
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh nutmeg
• 2 cup dry white wine
• 3 cups canned imported Italian plum tomatoes with juice chopped
• 2 cups chicken stock more as needed
• freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese at the table

Instructions

• On medium heat, add oil, butter, onion, until translucent.
• Add celery, carrots and cook on low until all is caramelized. This will add a lot of flavor. Once cooked, remove to a bowl. Set aside.
• In the pot you will be making the bolognese, cook meat. Sautè chopped pancetta or peppered salami. Salt meat. Add ground meat and satue Sautè meat separately until cooked completely.
• Add milk until cooked through on low about 10 minutes.
• Add nutmeg.
• Add the vegetables and mix through.
• Add the white wine and cook for about 10 minutes until alcohol is cooked off.
• Add the tomatoes, crushed with your hands.
• Add chicken stock. Cook on low for 3 hours and add more stock as necessary.
  

Notes

This recipe is a double batch, which I recommend, as you will eat it all. You can freeze, or make other dishes with it, such as bolognese sliders.

I sometimes substitute Boar’s Head peppered salami (about 4 ounces) instead of pancetta. 

The post What is Bolognese? All Your Questions Answered and a New Recipe appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

When talking to friends, I find most people want to enjoy spaghetti squash but are afraid to make it or actually don’t know how. I have a recipe here for making the squash, but know there are many cooking options and you can find them here.

I used this Paleo Italian Meatball recipe. You can use any meatballs you wish. This recipe doesn’t have any bread, keeping the whole dish very low-carb, healthy, and keto friendly.

The sauce is made with one can of Italian tomatoes, a little garlic and olive oil, keeping it real simple. I opted to add some mozzarella and bake it in the oven for 15-20 minutes.

Use Your Favorite Italian Meatballs

Make your own meatballs or use one of these recipes.

• Veal Meatballs Stuffed with Ricotta
• Paleo Meatballs
• Keto Meatballs
• Italian Meatballs in my Spaghetti/Meatballs Recipes

You can also add in ricotta cheese in dollops for extra creaminess.

Spaghetti Squash is actually pretty versatile adapting well to Italian dishes. It will add a little bit of sweet so you will want to make sure you add enough savory flavors and something salty like pecorino Romano cheese.

It’s not hard to make and can be made a day in advance, making weeknight meal preparation easy.

More Spaghetti Squash Recipes

• Spaghetti Squash, Sausage, Mushrooms and Cream
• Three Cheese Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
• Spaghetti Squash Carbonara
• Italian Shrimp with Spaghetti Squash
• Spaghetti Squash Bolognese Ricotta
• Spaghetti Squash Hashbrowns

Kitchen Equipment

• Serving Spoons
• Casserole Dishes of various sizes
• Oxo Box Cheese Grater

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Spaghetti Squash and Meatball Casserole

Spaghetti Squash with Paleo Meatiballs, Keto Friendly, Low Carb. Paleo, Gluten free.

Course Keto Entree

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Calories 337kcal

Author Angela Roberts

Ingredients

• 2 cups quick tomato sauce recipe below
• meatballs recipe below
• 1 spaghetti squash
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• 3/4 cup pecorino romano or parmesan
• parsley
• red chili flakes
• salt
• pepper

Quick Tomato Sauce

• 1 can San Marzano Tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 onion

Easy Paleo Meatballs

• 1 pound Ground Beef (can mix with beef and pork)
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 small egg
• 1/2 cup pecorino romano or parmesan cheese grated
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1/2 cup parsley chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Make Spaghetti Squash

• Roast spaghetti squash
• Soften spaghetti squash by microwaving for five minutes.
• Or you can just cut in half, lengthwise.
• Scrape out seeds and stringy parts.
• Put face down in pot. Add water up to about 3 inches.
• Roast for 40 minutes or until softened.

Make Meatballs

• Pour milk over ground beef.
• Season meat with parsley, 1/4 cup grated pecorino cheese, egg, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Shape into medium sized meatballs. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees F.
• Add to sauce and simmer on low, while you are preparing spaghetti squash.

Tomato Sauce

• Crush tomatoes with hand.
• Heat olive oil.
• Add onion and garlic. Add tomatoes to pot. You may need to add a little bit of water.
• You can choose to smooth out the sauce using a stick blender.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Cook uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes while squash is baking. Add meatballs as soon as they are ready.

Assemble

• Shred spaghetti squash with a fork.
• Paper towel moisture off of squash.
• Arrange in casserole dish.
• Slice meatballs and arrange in dish.
• Toss with Sauce. You may not use all of the sauce, depending as to how much you have.
• Add mozzarella cheese.
• Bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees F. or until all cheese is melted.
• Allow to cool about ten minutes. Serve with extra Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese.

Notes

You can use ground beef, loose Italian sausage or a mix of of beef/pork.

Net cabs: 7 with Six Servings

Nutrition

Calories: 337kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Fat: 20g | Fiber: 2g

The post Spaghetti Squash with Meatballs appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

I made this dish on a Wednesday of last week, and then made it all over again. The honest part is that I was never the biggest fan of spaghetti squash. I’ve made recipes with it before, but this one busted to the top of my all time favorite Fall dishes.

Italian sausage, mushrooms, onions, sage, thyme, pecorino Romano and a splash of heavy cream come together to bring one of the best Italian comfort dishes of the season and it’s still low-carb!

I talk to you all the time about my favorite Pecorino Romano cheese and why I love it so much. It’s a sheep’s milk cheese that has a salty tang, and can be used interchangeably with Parmesan Cheese.

Spaghetti squash tastes best when it is properly softened. This squash is twice baked and tender.

Each bite delivers a moment of comfort with the flavors of the sausage with the grated cheese, the earthiness of mushrooms and slight sweetness of the squash, all pulled together by heavy cream.

Spaghetti Squash Casserole Roasted and Rebaked

The spaghetti squash is roasted and then rebaked in a casserole. This also happens to be a very pretty dish that makes a beautiful presentation if you decide to put it back into the shell of the squash.

Spaghetti Squash is Easy to Make

I have a whole post here on how to cook spaghetti squash a few different ways.

Spaghetti Squash is only 31 calories per cup and about 5.5 net carbs.

More Spaghetti Squash Recipes

• Three Cheese Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
• Spaghetti Squash Carbonara
• Spaghetti Squash Three Cheese Lasagna
• Spaghetti Squash Hash Browns
• Italian Shrimp with Spaghetti Squash
• Spaghetti Squash Bolognese Ricotta

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Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe with Italian Sausage

Italian Sausage and Mushrooms come together with Spaghetti Squash and Heavy Cream for delicious Winter Comfort Food.

Course Entree

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 4

Author Angela Roberts

Ingredients

Roast Spaghetti Squash

• 1 large Spaghetti Squash
• 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
• salt and pepper

Squash Filling

• 2 pieces bacon
• 1/2 onion finely diced
• 2 cups mushrooms sliced
• 1 pound Italian Sausage removed from casing
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan or pecorino Romano Cheese.
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• salt
• pepper

Instructions

Roast Spaghetti Squash Instruction

• Microwave spaghetti squash for 3 to 5 minutes, to make it soft enough to cut it.
• Carefully cut in half lengthwise using a towel to hold the squash.
• Scoop out seeds. It’s important to do that now, as they are harder to separate out once baked.
• Brush olive oil or butter over spaghetti squash.
• Put into baking dish open squash side down.
• Roast for 30 minutes at 400 degrees F. or until it’s easy to shred squash into tendrils with a fork.

Squash Filling

• While squash is roasting, slice bacon across into small lardons.
• Fry bacon until you have crispy pieces. Drain on paper towels and set aside.
• Keep just enough of the bacon grease to sauté the onions and mushrooms for about 5 minutes until soft. Once cooked add to dish with the bacon.
• Wipe out grease from pan and cook sausage, removing it from casing.
• Drain sausage on paper towels.
• Remove spaghetti squash and allow to cool.
• Use the fork to shred the squash.
• Mix together sausage, bacon mushroom mixture, squash.
• Add half cheese and heavy cream.

Assemble

• Put into a baking dish or back in reserved squash shells.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle remaining grated cheese and bake for twenty minutes at 400 degrees.

The post Creamy Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe with Italian Sausage appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

Athough it takes more time than just sticking sausage and peppers in the oven, it’s probably one of the best methods for tender yet caramelized sausage that feeds a crowd well and my friends would agree! Double or triple this recipe when the crowd comes over and serve it with my overnight focaccia (recipe coming this week).

Sausage, Peppers, Onions Stovetop Process

• Use multi-color bell peppers: two bell peppers, one onion to one pound sausage.
• Flavor the olive oil first with some garlic, which is removed once golden.
• Place sausage in large pan with water and steam until they are nearly done.
• Cool, peel and slice across diagonally.
• Slice onion and sautè until softened. Set aside.
• Sautè sausage with slivered pepper.
• Add in onions.
• Season with salt and pepper.

Why Peel the Sausage?

The sausage will be much better peeled and not have that rubbery texture on outside. Once you peel sausage, you will always want to do that whenever you’re adding bite-sized sausage to a dish.

I ended up having to use to two large frying pans for 4 pounds of sausage for a potluck. I’ll write the recipe for one pound of sausage, so increase the amount according to your needs.

Sausage and Peppers is Great for a Potluck, Party or Game Day

Potluck or Party: It’s a great “take to” dish, once cooked and covered with a lid. You can also serve with rolls for sandwiches. This is a dish that can be made ahead and reheated. Double the recipe for a crowd.

Tips

• Slice Peppers and Onions ahead of time. Cover with plastic wrap.
• Increase amount of peppers and onions according to your taste.
• Serve with pasta for a bigger meal.
• Serve with rolls or focaccia for sandwiches.
• Serve with a side salad.
• Serve with crispysmashed potatoes.

More Recipes with Italian Sausage

• Italian Sausage Lentil Soup
• Italian Sausage and Greens Stir Fry
• Creamy Sausage Ragu with Pasta
• Creamy Spaghetti Squash Sausage Casserole
• Broccoli Rabe with Italian Sausage
• Italian Sausage Stuffed Eggplant
• Italian Sausage Balls
• Low Carb Sausage Breakfast Casserole
• Spicy Italian Soup with Sausage

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Stovetop Sausage and Peppers

Authentic Italian Sausage and Peppers

Ingredients

• 1 pound Italian Sausage Links
• 2 bell peppers varied colors
• 1 large onion
• 1 garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt
• pepper

Instructions

• Seed and cut bell peppers into 1/2 inch slivers. Set Aside
• Cut bell peppers into 1/2 inch slivers. Set Aside.
• Slice onion into slivers and sautè in olive oil on medium low heat until softened. Remove to a bowl.
  
• Place sausage in frying pan with 2 inches of water on medium heat until sausages are almost cooked. This steams the sausage.
• Cool. Peel. Cut across into bite sized pieces.
• Fry garlic cloves in oil in large frying pan until golden. Remove garlic cloves.
• Add sliced sausages to this pan. Sauté for a few minutes on medium heat.
• Add peppers to sausage. Once the peppers are softened, add the onion back in. Cook for a minute to warm the onion.
  
• Season with salt and pepper as needed.

The post Stovetop Sausage, Peppers and Onions for a Crowd appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

Made with passata (strained tomato sauce) heavy cream, white wine, the sauce is delicate and yet flavorful because of the sausage. This was something made for lunch on the fly and you will love it. It’s also really good left over.

We just returned from Italy, where we ate pasta almost every day. Actually, the boys who were with us (now 17) did eat pasta at least once and sometimes twice a day. These are the twins you’ve heard about here since the inception of this blog, born in 2007 and the blog born in early 2009. They’ve been along for the ride and in the kitchen for so many of the meals

Since we returned, I’ve been experimenting with new pasta dishes, because the boys eat lunch here about 4 times a week. .

You’ve probably heard that when people go to Italy, they can eat and pasta and bread without issue and weight gain. It’s true, but of course, take in mind, there is a lot of walking which probably helps the metabolism process the carbs. Also, there’s not a lot of junk food, snacks or sweets outside of gelato.

Even though most of my recipes are low-carb, you have families that don’t eat that way and sometimes you want to have some pasta too. You can make this sauce and serve it with spaghetti squash.

This dish, featuring a creamy sausage ragu takes less than an hour to make and it’s super easy, and satisfying.

Ingredients

• Hot Italian Sausage
• Carrot, Onion, Celery
• Jarred Passata (or tomato puree)
• Heavy Cream
• Pecorino Cheese
• White Wine
• Pasta AND Pasta Broth

Note on Pasta Broth: It’s a secret weapon for pasta dishes. It contains starch and will help thicken the sauce. It’s very important in this dish.

Choosing the Pasta

I used a small rigatoni, which has ridges and heft and works well with this sauce. This would work well with penne pasta, orecchiette, or gnocchi.

Process for Creamy Sausage Ragu

• Heat oil in pan.
• Chop celery, carrot, onion as small as possible, because you won’t have the several hours it takes to cook them down. If you only have onion that’s fine too.
• Crumble the sausage into the pot.
• When sausage is cooked through, add in white wine and cook for twenty minutes until the alcohol is cooked off. You can skip the wine, if you don’t have any.
• Add in just enough passata (puree) to cover the sausage. This is not a heavy tomato sauce. Heat through about ten minutes.
• Add any herbs you have like thyme, parsley, basil.
• Boil your pasta about 2 minutes before the directions. Save the pasta water. This is the best part.
• Add pasta water to the sausage, a ladle at a time. The starch helps to thicken the sauce. I eventually added three ladles. Add in about 1/2 cup heavy cream.
• Add a cup of grated pecorino cheese and serve more at the table.
• Season as you need with salt and pepper.

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Similar Recipes

• Spaghetti Squash, Ricotta, Bolognese
• Authentic Bolognese
• Bolognese with Pork and Peach
• How to Cook Pasta like an Italian

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Creamy Sausage Ragu

Easy, Fast Creamy Tomato Ragu, perfect for pasta, pizza, vegetables.

Course Entree

Cuisine Italian

Keyword edamame pasta, sausage bolognese, sausage ragu

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Pasta cooking time 8 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 onion small dice
• 2 medium carrots small dice
• 2 celery stalks small dice
• 1 pound loose Italian sausage
• 2 cups passata (tomato puree)
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup pasta water more if needed
• 2 cups pecorino cheese grated, divided

Pasta

• 1 pound pasta
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 large pot water

Instructions

• Heat oil in pan.
• Chop celery, carrot, onion as small as possible, because you won't have the several hours it takes to cook them down. If you only have onion that's fine too. Saute for five minutes.
• Crumble sausage into the frying pan.
• In meantime, boil water and cook pasta up to 2 minutes before done time. You'll finish cooking in the sauce.
• Add in just enough passata or tomato puree to cover the sausage. This is not a heavy tomato sauce. Heat through about ten minutes.
• Add any chopped herbs you have.
• Optional: Add white wine and continue cooking on low for about ten minutes or until alcohol is cooked off.
• Add heavy cream.
• When you are ready to add pasta to pan, add in a ladle of pasta water, as needed. The starch helps to thicken the sauce.I eventually added three ladles
• At this point you can decide if you need to add more tomato puree or more pasta water.
• Toss with 1 cup of grated pecorino cheese. Cook another minute stirring.
• Serve immediately with more pecorino cheese.
• NOTE: IF You use mild sausage, consider adding in some red chili flakes.

Pasta

• Large pot boiling water, salted. Do not add oil.
• Cook pasta 2 minutes less than directions.

The post Creamy Sausage Ragu with Pasta (made fast) appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

The keto crepes are made with almond flour, eggs, melted butter, sour cream, and almond milk. They do take a lot of patience, but once you have a batch, you can refrigerate or freeze for later use.

Cooking tip: Pour batter onto pan that is held up off stove. Swirl around and pour excess batter back into the bowl. If your batter is not thin enough for this, add more almond milk.

This batch worked well with my plans to use them as the lasagna noodle substitute. Layering ricotta cheese, mozzarella, tomato sauce with the crepes, this keto crepe lasagna will satisfy a craving keto or low carb folks get from time to time.

I did not add meat the first time I made this recipe because I made it for Good Friday (no meat), but the second time I used crumbled Italian sausage, which was great. You could also use crumbled paleo meat balls, or bolognese for an even more of a hearty meal.

Ingredients for Low Carb Crepe Lasagna

• 6-8 Keto Crepes
• 15 ounce ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup chopped spinach or Variation: 1 cup crumbled Italian Sausage
• 1/2 cup pecorino romano, grated
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce (sugar free)

Ingredients for the Savory Keto Crepes

• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1/2 cup almond milk, more if needed
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• dash salt
• avocado spray for crepe pan

MACROS: 9 Net Carbs per serving Calories: 530 Fat: 39 grams Protein: 32 Grams

Equipment Needed for this Recipe

• Crepe Pan
• 8 x 8 Baking Dish

Similar Keto Friendly Italian Recipes

• Chicken Parm
• Eggplant Parm
• Sausage Crust Pizza
• Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
• Eggplant Rollatini
• Italian Sausage Stuffed Eggplant
• Savory Ricotta Fritters

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Keto Crepe Lasagna

Low Carb, Keto Crepe Lasagna with Ricotta Cheese, spinach or Italian sausage.

Course Entree

Cuisine Italian

Keyword crepe lasagna, keto lasagna

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Crepe Making Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 540kcal

Ingredients

• 15 ounce ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup chopped spinach cooked or raw
• 1/2 cup pecorino romano cheese grated
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce sugar free
• 8 keto crepes

Keto Crepe Recipe

• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 2 eggs
• baking spray
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Use an 8×8 baking dish and cut crepes to fit the dish.
• Make sure to drain ricotta, by sitting on paper towel in colander. Some ricotta cheese is more moist than others.
• Mix ricotta with egg, spinach and pecorino romano. If not using spinach, add some chopped parsley or chopped basil. Season with salt and pepper.
  
• Layer the crepes with ricotta. You can cup the crepes to fit a square pan. Start with small amount of sauce, crepe, ricotta cheese, and so forth. Finish with sauce and mozzarella cheese.
  
• Bake at 350 F. for 20 minutes and turn up to 400 degrees for another five minutes. You may need more time if cheese isn't melted enough.
• If you don't want to use spinach, you can layer the very last layer with the cooked crumbled Italian Sausage.
  

Keto Crepes

• Mix almond flour with salt. Set aside.
• Mix eggs with almond milk, melted butter.
• Add dry mixture. Add a few teaspoons water if you need to thin down crepes.
• Heat crepe pan. I used a 7 inch crepe pan, which made 8 crepes. Whichever pan you use, follow the next instruction.
  
• Add baking spray. Hold crepe pan off the stove and add 1/4 crepe batter Or more if your pan is bigger. Swirl around to cover pan. Pour excess back into the batter. Put back on stove and cook for about 4 minutes on medium. Turn over for about 10 seconds.

  NOTE: Makes up to 10 crepes. If you are using a larger pan, you'll make less crepes and can cut them to fit your 8 x 8 baking dish.
  

Notes

Macros are for Spinach Version. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 4 | Calories: 540kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 39g | Fiber: 2g

The post Keto Crepe Lasagna appeared first on Spinach Tiger.