Ingredients

The following ingredients have 3 Servings
  • 8 oz short pasta (such as rigatoni, penne, fusilli or rotini)
  • Salt for pasta cooking water
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 3 links Italian sausage (mild or hot)
  • 2 cloves garlic (thinly sliced)
  • Pinch red pepper flakes (omit if using hot sausage)
  • 28 oz canned whole tomatoes (San Marzano recommended, hand-crushed*)
  • 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil, chopped)
  • 1/3 cup roasted red pepper (jarred, chopped)
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil (chopped or 2 tsp-ish dried basil)
  • 2 tsp fresh oregano (chopped or 1/2 tsp-ish dried oregano leaves)
  • 1/2 Tbsp butter (optional)
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper (to taste)
  • Additional chopped fresh basil
  • Freshly grated Pecorino or Parmesan cheese

Instruction

  • Start a large pot of water salted water boiling for the pasta.
  • Cut the sausage links into 1/2-inch slices. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or pan over medium heat on the stovetop. Add the sliced sausage pieces and cook, stirring, until cooked through and well browned. While sausage is cooking, slice up your garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and basil.
  • When pasta water is boiling, add dried pasta and cook to al dente.
  • When sausage is nicely browned, add garlic and red pepper flakes, if using. Cook, stirring, for about 1 minute more or until garlic is softened. Add the hand-crushed canned tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes and roasted red peppers and stir to combine. Add the fresh or dried herbs and a bit of salt and freshly ground pepper. Bring sauce to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low and simmer the sauce at least 10 minutes. Stir in the 1/2 Tbsp butter, if using. Reduce heat under sauce to low to keep warm until pasta is ready, if necessary.
  • When pasta is cooked, increase the heat under the sauce to medium. Spoon pasta from the cooking water with a spider strainer or slotted spoon (let it drain well back into the pot!) and add hot pasta right into the hot sauce. Cook the pasta with the sauce for about 2 minutes, stirring regularly. Taste sauce and add additional salt and pepper, if needed.
  • Serve garnished with grated Pecorino or Parmesan cheese and some more freshly chopped basil.