Description
Saucy Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta delivers bold Mediterranean flavors straight from Italian kitchens. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a comforting meal that satisfies with rich, zesty notes you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (454 grams) spicy Italian sausage
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or your choice)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 (14 ounces/397 grams) can diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for extra heat)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes. Carefully set aside a portion of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- In a spacious skillet, warm olive oil over medium-high temperature. Crumble italian sausage into the pan, browning thoroughly while breaking into smaller pieces.
- Incorporate minced garlic and diced onions, sautéing until aromatics become translucent and fragrant, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, rich cream, fiery red pepper flakes, and dried oregano. Allow mixture to gently simmer, developing robust flavors for 5-7 minutes.
- Introduce cooked pasta into the sauce, carefully folding to ensure complete coating. If sauce appears thick, gradually add reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency.
- Calibrate seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper, ensuring balanced flavor profile.
- Garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese and delicate torn basil leaves just before presenting the dish to enhance visual appeal and provide additional layers of taste.
Notes
- For a leaner version, swap spicy Italian sausage with ground turkey or chicken sausage to reduce fat content.
- Keep pasta water as a secret weapon to create a silky, glossy sauce that clings perfectly to noodles.
- Adjust spice levels by controlling red pepper flakes – start with less and gradually increase for personalized heat.
- Fresh herbs like basil can be substituted with dried oregano during winter months when fresh aren’t available.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 585 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg