
Pasta dishes don't have to swim in sauce. Don't get me wrong I love penne completely coated in a freshly made tomato and basil sauce, spaghetti drowning in bolognaise and macaroni rich with cheese sauce, but sometimes it's nice to keep the pasta quite plain and let the other ingredients sing.
In this dish, the pasta shells are coated in a little pesto and tossed with spinach, samphire and well cooked sausages.
Sausages must be well cooked. Always! Slightly charred is slightly preferable.
The sausages have to be veggie or course (or vegan). I used Quorn™ Meat Free Sausages, which I keep in the freezer. They're a great standby for quick meals. I serve them on finger rolls with fried onions and ketchup, in rich sausage bakes, on mash with gravy and peas or on a sandwich or wrap with salad for lunch.
A Healthy Family Meal
Quorn™ Meat Free Sausages - low in fat making them a *healthy source of protein.
Samphire - is rich in Vitamin A, B & C as well as folic acid.
Spinach - We all know that spinach is good for us, although it doesn't have as much iron as Popeye tried to convince us, but it is an excellent source or iron, vitamin A, B2, C, K, folic acid and magnesium.
I used jarred pesto (you could make your own) and topped the pasta with some finely grated cheddar, which works better than veggie parmesan in this dish.
To make sure Graham's meal was dairy free and vegan I cooked him some vegan sausages, used dairy free pesto and topped his pasta with grated vegan cheddar. I only had to cook the sausages separately and grate the cheese on before serving it so it was no extra work really.
also try Sticky Marmalade Sausage Bake (vegan)

Shell Pasta with Samphire, Spinach & Sausages
Shell pasta coated in pesto and tossed with samphire, spinach and Quorn Meat Free Sausages, then topped with grated cheddar.
Ingredients
- 400g shell pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 8 Quorn Meat Free Sausages
- 100g baby spinach
- 90g samphire
- 4 tbsp pesto
- a good grinding of black pepper
- 50g cheddar
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta in lots of boiling water until al dente.2. Fry the sausages in a little oil until brown and cooked through, then slice.3. While the pasta and sausages are cooking, rinse the spinach and samphire and chop, then add them to the cooking pasta a couple of minutes before the end of cooking.4. Drain the pasta and veg, then pop back in the pan with the pesto. Grind in some black pepper, then stir well. 5. Mix in the sausages and serve immediately topped with some grated cheddar.6. Enjoy
Details
Total time: Yield: Makes 4 generous portions

Check out the Quorn website for more recipes and to see their latest products including their vegan range and follow the discussing using #QUORNivore.
* Quorn Meat Free Low Fat Sausages are a nutritionally healthy source of protein, protein contributes to the growth in and maintenance of muscle mass
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Quorn. I was not expected to write a positive review and any opinions expressed are my own.
Hi Jacqueline, Love these simple pasta and greens recipes--and I often add vegetarian sausage to mine as well. What is samphire? Is there a different name for it in the US?
ReplyDeleteSamphire is a sea vegetable. It tastes a bit like asparagus but has a more salty flavour. It's full of vitamins and minerals. It's quick to cook and really tasty. I was lucky to get some as the season is usually over by now.
DeleteI love Quorn, it's so versatile. I was thinking of making pasta, but I never added samphire, sounds lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt is good with pasta or in a risotto. Cooper loves it.
DeletePasta always makes such a fabulous base for a great meal!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! It's always a standby in this house.
DeleteI keep seeing samphire and meaning to pick some up and cook with it. This is a good reminder, as this dish looks super tasty.
ReplyDeleteYes you should Dannii, it's lovely stuff.
DeleteThis sound lovely - must try!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Tracy :)
DeleteDelicious - I've recently tried Quorn sausages and I'm definitely a convert.
ReplyDeleteYes they are handy to have for quick meals.
DeleteI love pasta and I also prefer the ones with light to no sauce and tons of flavor! Great recipe!
ReplyDeleteI like both, but it's good to change things up I think :)
DeleteThis looks like a fantastic week night meal, I adore samphire and my husband adores pesto so this would be a winner in our house!
ReplyDeleteWell the perfect dish then, you have to make it.
DeleteWhat a perfectly autumnal dish - I need to get this organised!
ReplyDeleteThanks and yes you should definitely try it.
DeleteOh I really fancy this now! You're absolutely right - pasta doesn't need to be drowned in sauce to shine. I do wish I could find a good source for samphire, I love it!
ReplyDeleteYes it's good to change things up and sometimes have a light dressing so the other ingredients shine.
DeleteI really hope Quorn bring out vegan-friendly sausages soon, I used to love their products! This is my kind of dinner, total comfort food for Autumn :-)
ReplyDeleteI am sure they will. I have to admit I thought they would do these first.
DeleteWonderful family-friendly veggie supper that's perfect for my lot... I've not tried the boys with Samphire but reckon I will as they love their greens. Thanks for the inspiration as always!
ReplyDeleteThat's brilliant that they love their greens. I really struggle with Cooper, so I'm glad he likes samphire.
DeleteMmm loving the sound of this! I bought some samphire the other day from our local fish mongers and ended up binning it as I didn't know what to do with it! I know now for next time!
ReplyDeleteOh no, that's a shame. Add it to pasta, quiche, risotto or serve it on the side with a grinding of black pepper.
DeleteDon't cook often enough with samphire. Love what you did with it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle :)
DeleteWhat a stunning bowl of food, great photo, very tempting.
ReplyDeleteThanks Janice :)
DeleteBeautiful and colourful - I have never cooked with samphire though
ReplyDeleteIt's very quick and easy to cook Heidi and very tasty.
DeleteI adore a hearty bowl of pasta and this looks simply delicious.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nayna it was :)
DeleteOoh yes, this sounds gorgeous Jac. Samphire is so delicious, it's just a bonus that it's so good for you too :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a good way of looking at it Choclette. Tasty and healthy.
DeleteI love your pasta and vegan sausage recipe, looks beautiful and yummy. I've never actually tasted vegan sausage, must give it a try.
ReplyDeleteThey are actually really good Monika and I have a few family and friends who are meat eaters who enjoy them too.
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