Hearts of Palm Spaghetti with Homemade Chicken Sausage Marinara Sauce

Hearts of Palm noodles were something I discovered recently. They allow you to make pasta with minimal calories and carbs. For this, I wanted to make a low calorie Italian Sausage, so I used chicken breast. The secret ingredient in Italian sausage is fennel seeds, which are what gives it a unique flavor. Marinara sauce can be made by mixing canned crushed tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, chopped fresh basil, and salt if you want to make it yourself. This recipe gets you a huge plate of spaghetti with only 450 calories.

Ingredients:

For the Chicken Sausage:

• 4 oz (113g) ground chicken breast
• 1/4 tsp (1g) salt
• 1/4 tsp (0.5g) black pepper
• 1/4 tsp (0.5g) smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp (0.5g) garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp (0.5g) onion powder
• 1/4 tsp (0.5g) dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp (0.5g) dried marjoram
• 1/4 tsp (0.5g) ground fennel seeds (crushed with a mortar and pestle)
• 1/4 tsp (1.25g) apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 tsp (1.25g) coconut sugar
• 3/4 tsp (3.5g) extra virgin olive oil

For the Pasta & Sauce:

• 5 oz (140g) hearts of palm spaghetti (drained)
• 1 cup (240g) marinara sauce
• Parmesan cheese, shaved or grated (to taste)

Instructions:

1. Make the Sausage: In a bowl, mix the ground chicken with all seasonings, ground fennel, coconut sugar, and vinegar.
2. Cook the Sausage: Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook until browned and fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Heat the Pasta: Microwave the pasta for 1-2 minutes. Alternatively, place the drained hearts of palm spaghetti in a heatproof bowl and pour boiling water from a kettle over it. Let sit for 1-2 minutes, then drain.
4. Combine: Stir the marinara sauce into the cooked sausage and heat until warm.
5. Serve: Plate the hearts of palm spaghetti, top with the sausage marinara, and finish with Parmesan cheese.