Description
Hearty sweet pepper and sausage pasta delights dinner tables with robust Italian-inspired flavors. Spicy sausage, colorful peppers, and al dente pasta blend perfectly for a satisfying meal you’ll crave again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casing removed)
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne or rigatoni works great)
- 1 (14.5 oz/411 g) can diced tomatoes
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1 orange bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a large pot of salted water to a vigorous boil. Submerge pasta and cook until perfectly al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Sausage Sauté: Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium heat. Crumble sausage and cook until golden-brown and thoroughly done.
- Vegetable Infusion: Add bell peppers and onions to the sausage-filled skillet. Sauté until vegetables soften and become translucent, releasing their natural sweetness.
- Aromatic Enhancement: Introduce minced garlic, stirring quickly to prevent scorching. Allow garlic to release its fragrant oils for about one minute.
- Sauce Development: Incorporate diced tomatoes and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat and simmer, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
- Seasoning and Finishing: Season the sauce with salt and black pepper to taste. Fold cooked pasta into the robust sauce, ensuring complete coverage.
- Serving Flourish: Sprinkle generously with Parmesan cheese. Optional: Garnish with fresh herbs for a vibrant touch. Serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Choose Quality Sausage: Select fresh, high-quality Italian sausage for maximum flavor complexity and authentic taste.
- Control Pepper Heat: Adjust red pepper flakes based on spice tolerance; start with less and incrementally add for personalized heat level.
- Master Pasta Texture: Watch pasta closely during boiling to achieve perfect al dente consistency – typically 1-2 minutes less than package instructions.
- Balance Vegetable Cooking: Sauté bell peppers and onions until just softened to maintain slight crispness and prevent mushiness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg