Description
A comforting family favorite combining sweet bell peppers, savory Italian sausage, and al dente pasta in a rich, tangy sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ lb mild or spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
- 2 tbsp tomato paste, divided
- 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- ½ sweet onion, thinly sliced
- 2 medium red or yellow bell peppers, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1½ tsp light brown sugar
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 8 oz dry short-cut pasta
- Kosher salt, to taste
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- Toasted breadcrumbs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the sausage to the skillet, breaking it apart; cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in 1 tbsp of tomato paste, caramelize for 1-2 minutes, then transfer to a plate.
- In the same pan, add 1 tbsp olive oil and cook sliced onions and peppers over medium heat for 15-20 minutes until softened and caramelized.
- Stir in the remaining tomato paste, garlic, brown sugar, oregano, balsamic vinegar, and kosher salt; cook for another 2-3 minutes until the mixture is jammy.
- Meanwhile, boil salted water and cook pasta for 1 minute less than package instructions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain the pasta.
- Add drained pasta and cooked sausage back into the skillet, pour in ¼ cup reserved pasta water, and stir for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta.
- Serve immediately, topped with toasted breadcrumbs if desired.
Notes
Use fresh ingredients for the best flavor. Substitute short pasta with other shapes or turkey sausage for a lighter option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 40mg