Description
Hearty Italian Sausage Pasta delivers robust Mediterranean flavors in one sensational dish. Rich tomato basil sauce and spicy sausage create a comforting meal that will transport you straight to a charming Italian kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 400 grams (14 ounces) Italian sausage, casings removed
Pasta and Starch:
- 350 grams (12 ounces) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or your choice)
Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 can (400 grams) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Cook pasta until perfectly tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. Carefully drain and reserve.
- Select a generously sized skillet and warm olive oil over medium-high temperature. Introduce Italian sausage, methodically crumbling with a wooden utensil until rich golden brown and completely cooked.
- Incorporate finely diced onion and minced garlic into the sausage. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, allowing vegetables to soften and release aromatic flavors.
- Introduce tomato paste, stirring continuously for 60 seconds to intensify the robust tomato essence and develop deeper flavor profile.
- Pour crushed tomatoes into the skillet. Season with oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and ground black pepper. Allow sauce to gently simmer for 12-15 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent scorching.
- Fold freshly chopped basil and drained pasta into the simmering sauce. Toss thoroughly, ensuring every pasta strand gets evenly coated and heated through.
- Transfer to serving dishes immediately. Optional: Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for an extra layer of savory complexity.
Notes
- Swap spicy Italian sausage with mild version for less heat or use plant-based alternative for vegetarian diet.
- Pat sausage dry before cooking to ensure better browning and caramelization of meat.
- Reserve small amount of pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed, helping sauce adhere perfectly to pasta.
- Fresh basil makes significant difference compared to dried herbs, adding bright, aromatic flavor to final dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 495 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg