Description
A hearty blend of sweet bell peppers, zesty Italian sausage, and pasta, this Sweet Pepper & Sausage Pasta captures the essence of homemade goodness with vibrant colors and delectable flavors.
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 (rigatoni, penne, or fusilli)
- Kosher salt, to taste
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- Toasted breadcrumbs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in 1 tablespoon of tomato paste and cook for another 1-2 minutes until caramelized.
- Transfer the sausage to a plate and set aside.
- In the same pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and bell peppers, cooking for 15-20 minutes until softened and caramelized.
- Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, garlic, brown sugar, oregano, and balsamic vinegar. Season with kosher salt and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil and cook the pasta 1 minute less than package instructions.
- Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- Add the drained pasta and cooked sausage back into the skillet with the pepper mixture. Pour in ¼ cup of reserved pasta water and stir for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- If the mixture looks too dry, add more reserved pasta water as needed.
- Serve immediately, topped with toasted breadcrumbs if desired.
Notes
Ensure your sausage is nicely browned for the best flavor. Always reserve pasta water as its starchiness helps bind the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg