Description
A delightful blend of savory Italian sausage, sweet bell peppers, and a touch of balsamic vinegar, perfect for quick weeknight dinners.
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 the sausage to the skillet 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.
- Transfer the sausage to a plate and set aside.
- In the same pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and sliced bell peppers. Cook for about 15-20 minutes until softened and caramelized.
- Stir in the remaining tomato paste, garlic, brown sugar, oregano, and balsamic vinegar. Season with kosher salt and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- While prepping the sauce, cook the pasta in boiling salted water for 1 minute less than the package instructions.
- Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining. Then, drain the pasta and add it back to the skillet with the sausage and peppers.
- Pour in ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water, stirring to coat the pasta with the sauce. Add more water as needed.
- Serve immediately, topping with toasted breadcrumbs if desired.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat with a splash of water or olive oil.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 50mg