Gemelli with Sweet Sausage and Spinach

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Ingredients

1. 3/4 pound gemelli or penne
2. Salt
3. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4. 1 large onion, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
5. 1 pound sweet Italian sausages, casings removed
6. 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
7. 2 cups coarsely chopped baby spinach (4 ounces)
8. 1/2 pint red grape tomatoes
9. 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the gemelli until just al dente. Drain the gemelli, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water.
2. Meanwhile, in a large, deep skillet, heat the olive oil until shimmering. Add the onion and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the sausage and crushed red pepper and cook, breaking up the meat with the back of a spoon, until no trace of pink remains, about 5 minutes. Add the spinach and tomatoes and cook just until softened, about 3 minutes.
3. Add the gemelli and the reserved cooking water to the skillet and cook over moderate heat, lightly crushing the tomatoes, until heated through, about 2 minutes; season with salt. Transfer the pasta to bowls, sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve.