Fast & Easy Recipe For Italian Sausage & Tomato Pasta

Monday's Leftovers: Italian Sausage & Tomato Pasta

July 27, 2009

I got a little carried away at the grocery store this weekend, and as a result, I've got way too much Italian sausage left over in my fridge. So tonight, I'm going to assemble a quick pasta toss that makes the most of Italian sausage's fat and flavor without going overboard on the cased meats.

Since those links carry lots of zing, the key is to keep the rest of the ingredients sparse and simple. I'll add cooked tomatoes, red onion, and arugula to make it a balanced supper, and tie in all the elements with sprigs of basil and finely-grated Parmesan cheese. Presto: it's an alluring Monday night meal.

Adapted from Real Simple

Italian Sausage & Tomato Pasta

Ingredients

1 pound dry fettuccine
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium red onion, sliced
1 clove garlic, smashed
4 Italian sausages, preferably spicy, casings removed
1 pint red or yellow cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
1 cup arugula, torn
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Directions

Cook the fettuccine according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion softens, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sausage and cook about 5 minutes, using a wooden spoon to crumble it. Add the tomatoes and cook until the skins burst, about 8 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Add the cooked fettuccine, basil, and arugula and toss gently to combine. Serve in bowls and top with the Parmesan.

Serves 4.