PASTA WITH SAUSAGE, RED ONION, AND LENTILS

Pasta with Sausage, Red Onion, and Lentils image

Yield Makes 6 first-course or 4 main-course servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1/2 cup dried lentils
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped red onion
4 Italian sweet sausages (about 13 ounces), casings removed, crumbled
3/4 cup dry red wine
12 ounces small pasta (such as conchiglie or pennette)
3/4 cup (packed) grated pecorino Romano cheese (about 2 ounces)
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
Additional extra-virgin olive oil
Additional grated pecorino Romano cheese

Steps:

Cook lentils in small saucepan of boiling water until tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Drain well; set aside.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and sausage; sauté until sausage is light brown, about 8 minutes. Add wine and cook until almost all liquid evaporates, about 2 minutes. Stir in cooked lentils and cook until mixture is heated through, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain well, reserving 1cup pasta cooking water. Return cooked pasta to pot. Add sausage-lentil mixture, 3/4 cup cheese, and parsley and toss to coat. Add enough reserved pasta cooking water to moisten. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve, passing additional olive oil and grated cheese.