3linksItalian style sausageWe like Aidells® Italian Style with Mozzarella Cheese Sausage
3handfulsfresh spinachcoarsely chopped
Red Pepper Sauce
2tbspolive oil
1yellow oniondiced
1/4tspkosher sea salt
4clovesgarlicminced
3/4cupred wine
1tbspfresh sagechopped
1/2tspanchovy paste
2tbsptomato paste
1cupfire roasted diced tomatoes
1(16 oz) jarroasted red peppersdrained and rinsed
1/4tspsmoked paprika
1/4tspcayenne pepper
1/4cupgrated parmesan cheese
Instructions
Bring a large stockpot ⅔ full of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions. Rinse with cold water, drain, and set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven set over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and sauté, stirring occasionally, for about 4 minutes. Add the sausage, stirring occasionally, and cook until browned. Toss in the spinach and cook just until wilted. Transfer the sausage mixture to a plate and set aside.
For the pasta sauce, in the same pot, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. When hot, add the onions and sauté, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes. Sprinkle salt over the onions as they cook. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Pour in the red wine, using a whisk to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan, and cook until reduced by half. Mix in the sage, anchovy paste, and tomato paste, cooking for 3 minutes while stirring often.
Stir in the diced tomatoes, roasted red peppers, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper, then turn the heat down to medium. Let the sauce simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat and purée the sauce in a food processor or blender. Return the sauce to the pan and set it over medium-low heat. Mix in the sausage mixture. Cook for 5 minutes until heated throughout. Add the cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese, stirring until combined. Serve immediately.
Notes
-You can remove the casing of the sausage and break it up if you prefer the texture of ground sausage.-If you prefer a sweeter sauce, add 1 tsp. sugar to the sauce in Step 4.To STORE Sausage, Mushroom, and Spinach pasta leftovers, place pasta in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For FREEZING, store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.REHEAT on the stovetop over low heat or microwave until warm, adding a splash of water if needed to refresh the sauce’s consistency.