Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage Pasta

This one was just ok.. The beans were redundant..

Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage Pasta
adapted from iowagirleats

Ingredients:
1lb gemelli or other short cut pasta (reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water)
4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large shallot or 1 small onion, chopped
12oz Chicken Sausage, sliced
1 sweet apple (about 1 cup), chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
pinch red chili pepper flakes
salt and pepper
15oz can Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
6oz spinach
1 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water then drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat extra virgin olive oil in a very large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and sausage then saute until sausage is golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add apple, garlic, and red chili pepper flakes, season with salt and pepper, and then saute until apple is tender, about 5 minutes. Add chicken broth, beans, and spinach then toss with tongs until spinach is wilted, about 1 minute.
Pour sausage and apple mixture into pot with pasta then add parmesan cheese. Stir until combined, adding reserved pasta cooking water to reach desired consistency.