Creole Chicken and Green Beans

Most comfort food dinners are packed with unhealthy fats, unnecessary calories and obscene levels of simple carbs…and flavor, lots of flavor. With this comforting Creole Chicken and Green Bean Dinner I’ve left the abundance of flavor, while removing the unhealthy fats, unnecessary calories and those pesky simple carbs. Win-win!
Enjoy this hearty, protein-rich comfort food dinner with a salad of dark leafy greens for the perfect fitness meal.  See the recipe below ...

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 6 tablespoons finely chopped yellow onion
• 6 ounces mild pork sausage, casings removed
• 1 14-ounce can no-salt-added whole peeled tomatoes, chopped, with their juice
• ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon salt plus 1 tablespoon, divided
• 12 ounces thin tube-shaped pasta, such as pasta al ceppo
• 6 tablespoons part-skim ricotta cheese
• 10 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Steps

1. Put 2 quarts of water on to boil in a large pot.
2. Meanwhile, combine oil, onion and sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring and crumbling the sausage with a spoon, until the onion is golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, pepper and 1/8 teaspoon salt; cook until the tomatoes have reduced and separated from the oil, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
3. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon salt to the boiling water, stir in pasta and cook according to package instructions until just tender.
4. Just before the pasta is done, return the sauce to medium-low heat. Add ricotta and basil and stir until combined. When the pasta is done, drain well and toss with the sauce and Parmigiano. Serve at once.

 
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 362, Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 16mg, Sodium: 441mg, Carbohydrates: 48g, Fiber: 3g, Protein: 15g, Potassium 276mg.   Source:  AARP