Sausage Pasta

A quick, super tasty Sausage pasta made using chopped up Italian sausages that end up looking like mini meatballs, tossed in a tomato pasta sauce. Makes for a quick dinner that’s so tasty, you’ll be making this one again!

Sausage Pasta

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

250 g / 0.5 lb spiral pasta (Note 1)
500 g / 1 lb good Italian sausages , or other quality sausages of choice
1 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion , finely chopped
2 garlic cloves , minced
800 g / 28 oz crushed tomato (or tomato passata)
1 tsp chilli flakes / red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
Salt and pepper
1 - 2 big handfuls baby spinach (optional)
GARNISH:
Basil leaves , finely sliced
Parmesan

Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Cook pasta per packet directions MINUS 1 -2 minutes.
Just before you drain, RESERVE 1 cup of pasta cooking water. Then drain pasta.
Use a sharp knife to cut sausages into chunks about 1.5cm/3/5". It will get a bit smeary and the chunks will be weird shapes - don't worry, it self fixes while cooking!
Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add sausages and cook until quite browned on the outside, doesn't have to be cooked through inside.
Add onion and garlic, cook for 2 minutes until onion is translucent and sausages are very browned.
Add tomato, chilli flakes, pinch of salt and pepper. Mix and turn heat down to medium. Lets it bubble away energetically for 8 minutes or until it is quite thickened, stirring every now and then.
Add baby spinach (if using), pasta, and about 1/2 cup pasta cooking water. Toss quickly, no longer than 1 minute (otherwise the pasta may start to break).
Remove from stove, and serve immediately, garnished with plenty of basil and parmesan. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes:

I find that 250g / 0.5 lb spiral pasta is sufficient to serve 4 people because it seems to expand in volume more than strand pastas because of the shape. If you want to use more pasta, add about 1 tbsp tomato pasta + 1/4 cup water for every extra 50g / 2 oz of pasta. Also you can use any shaped pasta you want!
WORKFLOW: Fill large pot with water, while it comes to the boil, chop and brown the sausages. Then while the pasta is cooking, finish the sauce. If you can manage this multi tasking, you'll get this on the table in just over 15 minutes!