Fusilli with Sausage San Marzano

Hi, this is Susie, co-owner of Pastini Pastaria. This recipe is a family-pleaser, not too exotic and full of hearty flavors that will satisfy a crew hungry from summer activities. San Marzano tomatoes are considered by many chefs to be the best sauce tomatoes in the world. You can grow them in your garden or, luckily, they are available canned in many grocery stores now. San Marzano's are similar to plum tomatoes, with less seeds and thicker flesh, plus they are sweeter and less acidic. Use them for this dish if you can, or regular canned tomatoes will also be just fine. And don't worry about using another pasta shape like penne or rigatoni, any of those will be great. Add a simple salad or green veggie, and maybe some parmesan bread and you'll have a feast! If you want a glass of wine with this pasta, try one of the bold Southern Italian reds like Negroamaro or Montepulciano. They are a terrific value and a great match for all these flavors. Rushed for time? Stop by one of our six neighborhood bistros and let us do the cooking. As a What's 4 Dinner member, we'd like to offer you a free dessert voucher as our thanks for giving us a try. Buon Appetito, - Susie B. Co-owner

SERVINGS:

4

COOKING TIME:

45 min

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced fine
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, bulk or link (remove from casings if using link)
  • 1 roasted red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch X 1/4 inch strips (available at the olive bar in most grocery stores, or in jars in the condiment aisle)
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 1 28 ounce can whole peeled tomatoes with juice (preferably San Marzano)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
  • Salt and fresh cracked pepper
  • 1 pound Fusilli pasta
  • ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Heat olive oil in heavy-duty pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until onions are soft…about 5-6 minutes. Add garlic, oregano and sausage and cook, breaking up the sausage into pieces with a wooden spoon, until sausage is cooked through…about 6-7 minutes.
  3. Add white wine and roasted red peppers and bring to a boil. Simmer for 3 minutes.
  4. Crush the whole tomatoes using your hand and add to the pan with the juice from the tomatoes. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes.
  5. Cook pasta according to instructions on the box. Drain pasta in a colander when cooked.
  6. Add pasta to pan and combine.
  7. Serve pasta in bowls and garnish with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.