Baked Pasta with Greens and Sausage
 
MAKES 6 TO 8 SERVINGS
Ingredients
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 1 pinch ground nutmeg
  • 1 pound ground sweet Italian sausage
  • 1 (16-ounce) package gigli pasta, cooked according to package instructions
  • 1 cup chopped fresh kale
  • 1 cup chopped fresh mustard greens
  • 1 (8-ounce) package fresh mozzarella cheese pearls
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400°. Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  2. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, until flour is lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Whisk in milk until smooth. Cook, stirring frequently, until sauce is thickened, about 15 minutes. Whisk in salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Set aside.
  3. In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat until fully cooked and nicely browned, about 10 minutes.
  4. In a large bowl, combine sausage, pasta, kale, mustard greens, mozzarella, and béchamel. Transfer mixture to prepared dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan.
  5. Bake until bubbly and golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Serve with Parmesan, if desired.
Recipe by Southern Lady Magazine at https://southernladymagazine.com/baked-pasta-greens-and-sausage-recipe/