Cooking with Doyle

This dish combines the flavors that you might not have realized could go together so well.  The grapes, sausage, and pesto balance each other quite well, making a tasty pasta dish.

Yield: 7 servings

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb. sausage
• 4 cups seedless red grapes
• 1/3 ccup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp water
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 box (13.25 oz.) linguine
• 1 jar (8.1 oz) pesto
• 5 cups fresh spinach

Directions

1. Place the sausage and grapes in a greased 9" x 13" casserole dish.  In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, oil, and water.  Pour over the sausage and sprinkle with the salt & pepper.  Bake at 450°F for 20 minutes. Turn sausages over and bake another 10-15 minutes.
2. While the sausage is baking, prepare the linguine according to package instructions.  Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
3. Cut the sausage into 1/2" slices.  Combine the pasta water with the pesto.  Toss with the drained linguine, spinach, sausage, and grapes.
4. Serve hot.

Adapted from Taste of Home.