Ground Pork Pasta with Caramelized Cabbage, Peppers, Mushrooms, and Herbs
A deeper, more savory pork pasta built on caramelized cabbage, mushrooms, sweet peppers, onion, shallot, garlic, and a bright lemon-parsley finish. It uses March-appropriate cabbage as the backbone but adds enough ingredients and technique to feel more complete and layered.
Ingredients
-
Ground Pork1 lb $2.99/lb
-
Green Cabbage1 lb $0.59/lb sale
-
Kroger® Sliced White Mushrooms8 oz $2.49
-
Fresh Yellow Bell Pepper1 $1.67 each
-
Fresh Red Hothouse Bell Pepper1 $1.67 each
-
Jumbo Yellow Onions1 medium $0.99/lb
-
Shallots1 small $3.99/lb
-
Garlic4 cloves $0.69 each
-
Fresh Organic Lemon1 $0.99 each
-
Parsley2 tbsp chopped $1.29 each
-
Simple Truth Organic® Thyme1 tsp chopped $2.49
-
Simple Truth Organic® Rosemary1/2 tsp chopped $2.49
-
dried pasta (pantry)6-8 oz pantry
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook 6-8 oz dried pasta from pantry until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Thinly slice 1 lb green cabbage, 1 medium onion, and 1 small shallot. Slice 8 oz mushrooms and both bell peppers. Mince 4 garlic cloves. Zest and juice 1 lemon. Chop 2 tbsp parsley, 1 tsp thyme, and 1/2 tsp rosemary.
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb ground pork, season with salt and pepper, and cook 5-7 minutes until browned and a little crisp at the edges. Remove to a plate.
- In the same skillet, add onion, shallot, mushrooms, and bell peppers. Cook 6-8 minutes until softened and browned.
- Add the cabbage and cook 8-10 minutes, stirring often, until wilted and caramelized around the edges.
- Stir in garlic, thyme, rosemary, and lemon zest; cook 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and scrape up any browned bits.
- Return the pork to the skillet. Add the pasta and toss well, adding more pasta water as needed to bind everything together into a glossy sauce.
- Finish with parsley and about half the lemon juice. Taste and add more lemon juice, salt, and pepper as needed. Serve hot.
Cook time: 55 minutes
Estimated cost: $14-19 plus pantry pasta
Health notes: Hearty and comforting with substantial vegetable content; balanced if kept to a moderate pasta portion.
Drink pairing: Pinot Noir