This dish is inspired by Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli’s cavatappi pasta that she serves at her restaurant, Butter, in New York. The sauce is creamy, and when you make it at home, you control the spice. This is now one of my favorite pasta dishes 🙂
I got the chance to cook this WITH Alex Guarnaschelli! Check out the video below. She is super fun and so nice. I had such a great time! Thank you, Alex!
Pasta a la Alex Guarnaschelli (03:16)
Chef Alex Guarnaschelli and Star Kid Amber Kelley collaborate on an easy pasta dinner for families.
Penne with Tomato Sauce and Spicy Sausage
2016-10-08 11:48:29
This dish is inspired by Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli's cavatappi pasta that she serves at her restaurant, Butter, in New York. The sauce is creamy, and when you make it at home, you control the spice. This is now one of my favorite pasta dishes 🙂
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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound Italian chicken sausage, casings removed
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 3 large shallots, sliced
- Kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano
- One 28-ounce can whole San Marzano tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 pound dry penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 6 to 8 fresh basil leaves
- Grated Parmesan, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of the oil. When the oil just begins to smoke, add the sausage, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is browned and crispy, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.
- Reduce the heat to low. To the same skillet, add the red pepper flakes, garlic and shallots. Season with salt. Add the oregano and stir. Cook until the garlic and shallots are tender and translucent, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Place a strainer over a medium bowl. Quarter the tomatoes and, working over the strainer, scrape the seeds and "jelly" from each piece. Push the liquid through the strainer and discard the seeds. Add the tomato flesh and liquid to the shallot mixture and stir in the sugar and 1 tablespoon salt. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the tomato flesh starts to lose shape, about 10 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water and simmer until the tomato sauce is mushy, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil and add salt. Cook the pasta, stirring so it doesn't stick to the bottom, until al dente (chewy but not hard or raw tasting), 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving a bit of the pasta cooking water, and set aside until the sauce is finished.
- Transfer the tomato sauce to a blender and puree until smooth. Add the balsamic vinegar and blend again. With the blender running, pour the remaining 1/2 cup oil through the top in a slow, steady stream. Blend in 1 cup water then transfer the sauce to a large skillet and add salt to taste.
- Place the skillet over medium heat and add the pasta. Stir to combine with a wooden spoon. Cook until the sauce and pasta are heated through, about 6 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta cooking water to thin it out. Drain any excess grease from the sausage and stir it into the pasta. Season with salt. Tear the basil leaves over the pasta and sprinkle with Parmesan.
Notes
- Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/penne-pasta-with-alex-guarnaschelli.html
Cook With Amber https://cookwithamber.com/