Pasta is such a versatile grain to work with. Pasta recipes can be as simple as cooking the pasta and adding a splash of oil or pesto, or as complex as the 20- or even 30-ingredient recipes that make even Italian cooks shake in their boots.
The following recipe is a breath of fresh air because it takes easy-to-source ingredients and combines them for a truly impressive result. If you love pasta, you’ll love this!
Although basic pasta dishes have their place (mac ‘n cheese, anyone?) there are also some really sophisticated pasta dishes you can prepare, and you don’t have to be an Italian chef to master them. The following recipe combines pasta with Italian sausage, vegetables, garlic, and white wine.
The result is phenomenal. It’s a myth that gourmet dishes are hard to make. Try this one out for yourself and you’ll fall in love with its simplicity and flavor in next to no time!
Why You’ll Love the Recipe:
Everyone has to start somewhere with cooking and, because this pasta recipe is so incredibly easy, it’s a great one to try. Even if you’re a pasta aficionado or a seasoned pasta cook, it’s always worth learning a brand-new recipe. No two pasta recipes are alike and this one is especially wonderful because it’s easy, full-flavored and impressive! So whether it’s Valentine’s Day, someone’s birthday or just a plain weeknight evening, this is one impressive pasta recipe you won’t want to miss out on.
How to Serve It:
Pasta is always best served hot (unless it’s a pasta salad that is!) and this one is beautifully served by itself, still piping hot and smelling amazing. If you want to double up on the carbs (and the deliciousness) feel free to serve some garlic bread alongside.
Ingredients:
- Italian ground sausage
- Olive oil
- Large onion chopped
- Black pepper
- Zucchini diced
- Red pepper flakes
- Minced garlic
- Rigatoni noodles
- Grape tomatoes
- Salt
- Chopped fresh basil
- Tomato paste
- White cooking wine
- Grated Parmesan cheese
How to make Rigatoni with Sausage, Tomatoes, and Zucchini:
Step 1. Cook the rigatoni in a pot of boiling water until done to your liking. Reserve ½ cup of the water, and drain the pasta well.
Step 2. Place the oil in a skillet over medium heat on the stove.
Step 3. Add the onions and sausage to the skillet, and saute until the meat is browned and the onions have softened. Drain any excess grease.
Step 4. Mix in the garlic and red pepper flakes.
Saute for another minute.
Step 5. Stir in the tomato paste, and saute for 30 seconds.
Step 6. Add in the white cooking wine, tomatoes, and salt and pepper to taste. Saute for 10 minutes.
Step 7. Toss in the zucchini, and saute until softened.
Step 8. Mix the pasta into the skillet, and toss to combine the ingredients well. Add some of the reserved pasta water if needed.
Step 9. Garnish with basil and parmesan cheese before serving.
Pasta dishes are always perfect for a special occasion but they’re just as good for a weeknight dinner. So if you want to enjoy a taste of Italy, try this amazing pasta recipe and you’re going to be blown away by the delicious flavors it offers.
Rigatoni with Sausage, Tomatoes and Zucchini
Ingredients
Method
- Cook the rigatoni in a pot of boiling water until done to your liking. Reserve ½ cup of the water, and drain the pasta well.
- Place the oil in a skillet over medium heat on the stove.
- Add the onions and sausage to the skillet, and saute until the meat is browned and the onions have softened. Drain any excess grease.
- Mix in the garlic and red pepper flakes, and saute for another minute.
- Stir in the tomato paste, and saute for 30 seconds.
- Add in the white cooking wine, tomatoes, and salt and pepper to taste. Saute for 10 minutes.
- Toss in the zucchini, and saute until softened.
- Mix the pasta into the skillet, and toss to combine the ingredients well. Add some of the reserved pasta water if needed.
- Garnish with basil and parmesan cheese before serving.
THANKS FOR PINING!
Can You Make It Ahead?
Although a lot of recipes with pasta can be made ahead and even enjoyed served chilled the following day, this one is best served as soon as it’s ready. This is because of the fresh vegetables in there and also because it’s so good – you will want everyone to enjoy this gourmet pasta recipe at its very freshest and best.
Storage Instructions:
Leftovers, although unlikely, are possible, in which case keep them in an airtight container in the fridge and eat them within a few days. You can microwave them or pop them in a hot oven to reheat. You can also enjoy leftovers cold.
Variations and Substitutions:
The recipe calls for rigatoni which is pasta shaped like long tubes with ridges, but you can use penne or macaroni in its place. Broccoli or mushrooms would work instead of the zucchini.
Leave a Reply