Italian Sausage Rigatoni (Printable Version)
Hearty pasta, juicy Italian sausage, a dreamy tomato-cream blend, and a hit of herbs come together for one bold comfort plate.
# What You'll Need:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
1 pound rigatoni pasta
02 -
1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
03 -
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
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1 teaspoon black pepper
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2 teaspoons salt
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1 teaspoon red chili flakes
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1/4 cup fresh oregano, chopped (or use 1 tablespoon dried)
08 -
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped (or use 1 tablespoon dried)
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2 cans (28 ounces each) whole or crushed tomatoes
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4 garlic cloves, minced
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1 large onion, diced
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2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
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1 1/2 pounds Italian sausage, take off the casings
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 -
Scoop the pasta onto bowls or plates. Sprinkle the rest of the Parmesan over the top. Toss on a little more fresh basil if you like, and dive right in.
02 -
Dump your drained rigatoni straight into that sauce. Toss it gently so everything gets well coated. Want the sauce thicker? Let it bubble together for 10 minutes more.
03 -
Pour in the heavy cream and a good cupful of Parmesan. Let it warm up and meld for five to seven minutes, giving it a taste and tweak if you think it needs anything else.
04 -
Tip in the tomatoes with your sausage mix. If they’re whole, just toss them in a blender to make them smooth first. Add all your basil, oregano, chili flakes, salt, and black pepper. Let it come up to a boil, then drop the heat a bit and let it cook gently five to seven minutes.
05 -
While your sauce starts to build flavor, get a pot of water boiling for the rigatoni. Toss in salt like you mean it. Cook the pasta by the box instructions—usually nine to eleven minutes. Drain when done and set aside.
06 -
Toss the sausage into your big pot and break it up as it cooks. Let it go for around seven or eight minutes till all the bits are golden and cooked through.
07 -
Get your olive oil warm in a big pot on medium. Add the onion, stir now and then, and let it get soft about seven or eight minutes. Stir in the garlic for a minute to wake up the flavor.
# Additional Notes:
01 -
Picking good Italian sausage and grating your own Parmesan really makes a difference in flavor.
02 -
Letting the finished sauce simmer a bit longer—like another five to ten minutes—makes it even richer.