Western Wagon Wheels with Tomato Ale Sauce

Recipe courtesy of the National Pasta Association.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 pound wagon wheel pasta, rotini or other medium pasta shape, uncooked
1/3 pound country-style turkey sausage, casing removed, broken into pieces
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, mashed
1 cup ale or beer, flat
1 (28-ounce) can low-sodium tomato puree
1/4 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 small bay leaf
French Bread (optional)

Cooking Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, cook the sausage over medium heat. Remove sausage with a slotted spoon and reserve.
2. Add oil, onion and garlic to pan. Cook over medium heat until onions are translucent.
3. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer over low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
4. Remove bay leaf and add the reserved sausage. Simmer until the sausage is heated through, approximately 5 minutes.
5. Toss pasta with sauce and serve with French bread.

Makes 4 servings.

Recipe and photograph courtesy of the National Pasta Association.