Indulge in Creamy Tomato & Basil Pasta with Sausage
This Creamy Tomato & Basil Pasta with Sausage is the ultimate comfort food, perfect for a busy weeknight. Imagine the delightful aroma filling your kitchen – savory Italian sausage, rich and velvety tomato sauce, and the fragrant touch of fresh basil. This recipe is a celebration of simple ingredients, elevated to a culinary masterpiece.
This quick weeknight meal (#weeknightmeal) is a FlavorTrailRecipes.blogspot.com favorite, designed to satisfy your cravings without keeping you chained to the stove. It's a perfect balance of flavors and textures, a testament to how simple ingredients can create an extraordinary dish. The creamy tomato sauce (#tomato), bursting with the freshness of basil (#basil), perfectly complements the savory Italian sausage (#sausage). This pasta dish is not just a meal; it's an experience.
Recipe Details
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
| Category | Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Sausage | Italian Sausage (sweet or hot), casings removed | 340g |
| Aromatics & Sauce | Olive Oil | 1 tbsp |
| Yellow Onion, finely chopped | 1 medium | |
| Garlic, minced | 2 cloves | |
| Crushed Tomatoes | 700g | |
| Heavy Cream | 120ml | |
| Dried Oregano | 1 tsp | |
| Red Pepper Flakes (optional) | 1/2 tsp | |
| Pasta | Pasta (penne, rigatoni, or your favorite shape) | 340g |
| Cheese & Herbs | Grated Parmesan Cheese | 1/2 cup + more for serving |
| Fresh Basil Leaves, chopped | 1/4 cup | |
| Seasoning | Salt and freshly ground black pepper | To taste |
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes (if using). Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the cooked sausage back to the sauce.
- Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese (#Parmesan cheese) and chopped basil (#basil).
- Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Expert Tips & Variations
- For a vegetarian version, omit the sausage and add 1 (14-ounce) can of drained and rinsed cannellini beans or chickpeas to the sauce.
- To add more vegetables, sauté sliced bell peppers or mushrooms along with the onion.
Nutritional Information (Per Serving)
Approximate: 650 calories, 30g protein, 65g carbohydrates, 30g fat
Serving Suggestion
Serve with a side of garlic bread or a simple green salad.
Ready to create this #comfortfood masterpiece?
Let us know in the comments below how your Creamy Tomato & Basil Pasta with Sausage turned out! And for more delicious #pasta and #italianfood recipes, explore more on FlavorTrailRecipes.blogspot.com. Happy cooking!