Description
Hearty Creamy Sausage Rigatoni brings Italian comfort straight to your kitchen, blending rich flavors and robust ingredients. Pasta enthusiasts will savor each bite of this satisfying dish that promises warmth and deliciousness in every forkful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
- 12 ounces (340 grams) rigatoni pasta
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
Aromatics and Herbs:
- ½ cup onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds (optional for extra flavor)
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped, for garnish
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare a spacious pot with salted water, bringing it to a rolling boil. Submerge rigatoni and cook until perfectly tender, following package guidelines. Carefully extract pasta, preserving a portion of the starchy liquid for later use.
- Select a generous skillet and warm olive oil over moderate heat. Introduce finely diced onions, allowing them to soften and become translucent. Incorporate Italian sausage, methodically fragmenting the meat as it sizzles and browns. Optional: eliminate excess fat from the pan.
- Introduce minced garlic, aromatic fennel seeds, fiery red pepper flakes, and rich tomato paste into the skillet. Gently toast the ingredients to intensify their flavors. Stream chicken broth into the mixture, encouraging a gentle simmer that reduces and concentrates the sauce’s essence.
- Modulate the heat to a gentle murmur and cascade heavy cream into the pan. Allow the sauce to evolve, thickening and developing a luxurious texture. Strategically integrate reserved pasta water, adjusting the consistency to create a silky, clinging sauce.
- Gracefully transfer rigatoni into the sauce, ensuring each pasta tube becomes lavishly coated. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese throughout, creating pockets of savory richness. Fine-tune seasoning with salt and pepper. Embellish with additional Parmesan and a scattering of fresh parsley or basil before presenting this sumptuous dish.
Notes
- Choose rigatoni with ridges to help sauce cling better, creating a more flavorful bite in every mouthful.
- Drain pasta when it’s just shy of al dente since it will continue cooking in the hot sauce, preventing mushy texture.
- For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with Greek yogurt or half-and-half to reduce overall calorie content.
- Consider using ground turkey sausage as a leaner protein alternative without sacrificing rich, savory flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg