Description
Hearty sausage and squash cavatelli delight blends Italian comfort with seasonal ingredients. Rustic flavors merge in this satisfying pasta dish you’ll savor with warmth and enthusiasm.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) Italian sausage (3–4 links)
- 1 box cavatelli pasta
- 1 large zucchini, sliced
- 1 large yellow squash, sliced
- 1 large shallot, halved and sliced
- 2 plum tomatoes, halved and sliced (optional)
- 2 tsps (10 ml) olive oil
- 1 cup (240 ml) reserved pasta water
- ¼ cup (60 ml) fresh basil leaves, torn
- Parmesan cheese, grated
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sausage Searing: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove sausage from casing and crumble into the pan, cooking until golden brown and fully cooked through.
- Vegetable Transformation: Remove sausage to a side plate, maintaining the flavorful pan drippings. Add more olive oil and introduce zucchini, yellow squash, and shallots, sautéing until they caramelize and soften. Incorporate diced tomatoes in the final moments of cooking, allowing them to warm gently.
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a separate pot of salted water to a vigorous boil. Cook cavatelli for 8-10 minutes until al dente, reserving a cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Culinary Fusion: Combine the golden sausage, caramelized vegetables, and perfectly cooked pasta in a large mixing bowl. Gradually blend in reserved pasta water to create a luxurious, silky sauce that embraces all ingredients.
- Final Flourish: Season the dish with freshly ground black pepper and kosher salt, ensuring a harmonious balance of flavors that highlights the unique essence of each component.
Notes
- Sausage Selection Matters: Choose high-quality Italian sausage with robust flavor, preferably sweet or spicy, to elevate the overall dish’s taste profile.
- Vegetable Caramelization Technique: Slice zucchini and squash uniformly to ensure even cooking and beautiful golden-brown edges that add depth to the recipe.
- Pasta Water Magic: Reserve starchy pasta water before draining – this liquid gold helps create a silky, emulsified sauce that binds ingredients perfectly.
- Temperature Control Crucial: Maintain medium-high heat throughout cooking to develop rich caramelization without burning ingredients, creating complex flavor layers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg