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Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta: A Simple Indulgence for Any Night

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Enjoy a comforting and flavorful meal with this Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta. Tender penne, Italian sausage, and a creamy sauce make this a perfect dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound penne pasta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound Italian sausage
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • Salt and pepper
  • Fresh basil

Instructions

    1. Cook the Pasta (The Pasta Prep):

        • Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Salt the water generously to season the pasta as it cooks.

        • Cook the penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Al dente means “to the tooth” in Italian, and it refers to pasta that is cooked until it is tender but still firm to the bite.

        • Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining. The starchy pasta water will help to thicken the sauce and bind it to the pasta. Set both aside.

    1. Brown the Sausage (The Browning Basics):

        • Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

        • Add the ground Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Don’t overcrowd the skillet, as this will cause the sausage to steam rather than brown.

        • Transfer the cooked sausage to a plate and set aside.

    1. Sauté Garlic and Sun-Dried Tomatoes (The Sautéing Secrets):

        • Reduce the heat to medium and add the minced garlic to the skillet.

        • Sauté the garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Don’t burn the garlic, as it will become bitter.

        • Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.

    1. Create the Creamy Sauce (The Sauce Symphony):

        • Add the heavy cream to the skillet and bring to a simmer.

        • Cook the sauce for 3-5 minutes, or until it has thickened slightly. This will concentrate the flavors and create a richer sauce.

        • Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, cooked sausage, and baby spinach.

        • Cook until the spinach is wilted, about 1-2 minutes. Don’t overcook the spinach, as it will become mushy.

        • Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Taste the sauce before adding salt, as the Parmesan cheese may already add enough salt.

    1. Combine Pasta and Sauce (The Pasta Pairing):

        • Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce, adding some of the reserved pasta water if needed to thin the sauce. The starchy pasta water will help to thicken the sauce and bind it to the pasta.

    1. Serve (The Serving Sensation):

        • Serve the Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta hot, garnished with torn fresh basil leaves and extra Parmesan cheese. You can also add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of olive oil.

Notes

  • Use quality Italian sausage.
  • Simmer sauce to thicken.
  • Garnish with fresh basil.

Find it online: https://susanrecipes.com/creamy-tuscan-sausage-pasta-a-simple-indulgence-for-any-night/