Description
A flavorful and hearty sausage pasta dish featuring Italian sausages cooked with garlic, onions, and a rich tomato sauce, tossed with spiral pasta and optional baby spinach. This quick and easy stovetop recipe is perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal, garnished with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese for an authentic Italian touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 250 g / 0.5 lb spiral pasta
Sausage and Sauce
- 500 g / 1 lb good Italian sausages (or other quality sausages of choice)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 800 g / 28 oz crushed tomato (or tomato passata)
- 1 tsp chilli flakes / red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Vegetables and Garnish
- 1 – 2 big handfuls baby spinach (optional)
- Basil leaves, finely sliced
- Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the spiral pasta according to the package instructions, but reduce the cooking time by 1 to 2 minutes to keep it slightly firm. Just before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Prepare the Sausages: Using a sharp knife, cut the sausages into chunks about 1.5 cm (approx. 3/5 inch). The pieces may look irregular and slightly smudged, but this will correct itself during cooking.
- Brown the Sausages: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the sausage chunks and cook until they are well browned on the outside, though they don’t have to be fully cooked internally yet.
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the sausages. Cook for about 2 minutes or until the onion becomes translucent and the sausages are deeply browned.
- Add Tomato and Seasoning: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, then add the chili flakes, a pinch of salt, and pepper. Stir to combine, reduce the heat to medium, and let the sauce bubble vigorously for 8 minutes or until it has thickened, stirring occasionally.
- Toss Pasta and Spinach: If using, add the baby spinach to the skillet. Then add the drained pasta along with about 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water. Toss everything quickly for no longer than 1 minute to avoid overcooking the pasta.
- Serve: Remove the skillet from heat. Serve the pasta immediately, garnished generously with fresh basil leaves and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy your delicious meal!
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water before draining; it helps to loosen and bind the sauce for a better texture.
- You can substitute Italian sausages with any quality sausages according to your preference.
- Adjust chili flakes based on your preferred spice level.
- The spinach is optional but adds a nice fresh contrast and extra nutrients.
- This dish is best served immediately to enjoy the texture and flavors at their peak.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: sausage pasta, Italian sausage recipe, quick pasta dinner, stovetop pasta, easy sausage pasta, tomato sausage pasta
