Description
Hearty pasta with spicy Italian sausage and peppers combines robust flavors from traditional Southern Italian cooking. Sizzling sausage and sweet bell peppers create a satisfying meal you’ll crave on cool evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 400 g (1 lb) Italian sausage
- 250 g (8.8 oz) pasta
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 medium onion
- 2 large garlic cloves
- 1 x 400 g (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 200 ml (1 cup) chicken stock
- 30 g (⅓ cup) grated Parmesan
- 2 tbsps tomato paste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp red chilli flakes
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a generously salted large stockpot of water to a vigorous boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente, reserving some starchy pasta water before draining.
- Sausage Searing: Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Crumble and brown Italian sausage until it develops a deep golden crust, releasing rich, savory flavors.
- Vegetable Infusion: Add sliced onions and bell peppers to the sausage. Sauté until vegetables soften and become slightly translucent, creating a aromatic base for the sauce.
- Aromatic Enhancement: Introduce minced garlic, red chili flakes, and Italian seasoning. Allow the spices to bloom briefly, intensifying the dish’s complex flavor profile.
- Sauce Development: Incorporate tomato paste, chicken stock, and crushed tomatoes. Simmer the mixture gently for 10 minutes, stirring intermittently to develop a rich, harmonious sauce.
- Final Composition: Toss the perfectly cooked pasta into the sauce, ensuring complete coating. Fold in freshly grated Parmesan cheese, adjusting seasonings to create a perfectly balanced dish.
- Serving Finale: Plate the pasta immediately, presenting a steaming, vibrant meal. Optionally garnish with an additional sprinkle of Parmesan cheese for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Preserve Pasta Water: Starchy water helps create a silky, clingy sauce that perfectly adheres to pasta noodles, enhancing overall dish texture and flavor.
- Sausage Browning Technique: Crumble sausage into small pieces while cooking to ensure even caramelization and maximize delicious crispy edges for deeper flavor profile.
- Vegetable Sauté Timing: Avoid overcooking peppers and onions; keep them slightly crisp to maintain fresh texture and prevent becoming mushy or losing vibrant colors.
- Seasoning Balance: Taste and adjust salt, chili flakes, and Parmesan gradually to personalize heat level and ensure harmonious flavor without overwhelming individual ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 496
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 740 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg