Description
Creamy Red Pepper Sausage Pasta Delight brings Italian-inspired comfort to dinner tables with rich, hearty flavors. Spicy sausage mingles with silky sauce, creating a quick, satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 0.5 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 cup heavy cream
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 2 cups roasted red peppers, drained (from a 16 ounce jar)
- 1 medium shallot, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 fresh basil leaves
Pasta and Seasoning:
- 12 ounces pasta (penne or medium shells recommended)
- 0.5 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 0.5 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 0.5 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare dried pasta according to package directions, cooking until perfectly tender with a slight bite. Drain in a colander and reserve.
- Transform roasted red peppers, low-sodium chicken broth, rich heavy cream (236 milliliters or ), and fresh basil leaves into a silky, vibrant sauce by blending thoroughly until completely smooth.
- Warm extra virgin olive oil (30 milliliters or ) in a generously sized skillet over medium-high temperature. Introduce Italian sausage, methodically fragmenting the meat with a sturdy wooden spatula until deeply caramelized and golden brown.
- Incorporate finely minced shallots and crushed garlic into the sausage, sautéing for approximately 2-3 minutes until aromatics become translucent and fragrant. Sprinkle kosher salt to elevate the overall flavor profile.
- Gently cascade the crimson pepper purée into the skillet, reducing heat to medium-low. Allow the sauce to softly bubble, melding the complex flavors and creating a luscious consistency.
- Introduce the reserved pasta directly into the bubbling sauce, followed by freshly grated Parmesan cheese (60 grams or ). Continuously stir and fold the ingredients, ensuring each pasta strand becomes luxuriously coated with the creamy, robust sauce.
- Remove from heat after 2 minutes of careful mixing, letting the residual warmth complete the final moments of sauce absorption and cheese integration.
Notes
- Elevate your pasta game with this restaurant-worthy dish that transforms simple ingredients into a rich, creamy masterpiece.
- Roasting red peppers beforehand intensifies their sweetness and depth, creating a luxurious sauce base that’s far from ordinary.
- Breaking sausage into smaller pieces ensures maximum flavor distribution and creates delightful crispy edges in every bite.
- Parmesan cheese acts as a magical binding agent, melting smoothly into the sauce and adding a nutty, savory undertone.
- Simmering the sauce on medium-low heat allows flavors to harmonize without risking separation or burning.
- Serving immediately after cooking guarantees the most vibrant taste and perfect sauce consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 620 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg