Pasta Rustica With Chicken Sausage and Three Cheeses
photo by Cook4_6
- Ready In:
- 1hr 25mins
- Ingredients:
- 14
- Serves:
-
6-8
ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb chicken sausage, casings removed (can also use turkey sausage)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1⁄4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
- 1 (28 ounce) can tomatoes in puree, tomatoes coarsely chopped and puree reserved
- 1 cup water
- salt, to taste
- 1 lb penne (or other tube shaped pasta)
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 2 cups Fontina cheese, shredded (can also use mozzarella)
- 1⁄2 cup grated parmesan cheese
directions
- In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until golden, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
- Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up into bite-sized pieces with the side of a spoon, until the sausage loses its pink color, about 6 minutes.
- Stir in the basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
- Add the tomatoes with their puree and the water and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 30 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F Lightly oil a shallow 3-quart (3-l) baking dish.
- Bring a large pot three-fourths full of water to a boil. Salt the water, add the pasta, stir well, and cook until barely al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Do not overcook. Drain well.
- In a large bowl, toss the pasta with the sauce, ricotta, and fontina cheese. Spread in the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the Parmesan.
- Bake until the cheeses are melted and the tips of the pasta are crusty, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes.
- Serve hot.
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
I work full-time as a School Psychologist in Michigan. Besides the kids, one of the best aspects of the job is summer vacation, when I can concentrate on doing more of the things that I like to do---like look up recipes and play games on Recipezaar!!!
I married my wonderful and handsome husband, Sean, in August 2007. He is becoming a wonderful gardender and tends to both our veggie and herb gardens. We really enjoy cooking with our own fresh ingredients. We most often cook together, so my reviews typically reflect our joint opinions. He's the better cook, so I pick up a lot of my techniques from him.
My other interests include reading (now that I have time), Irish dancing (I've taken a class for the last several years), "appreciating" wine (I use the term very loosely), and listening to and going to see Irish bands (I love the Pogues).
I also enjoy travelling, especially around Western Europe, where I have been multiple times. One of my favorite places is Italy, and Sean and I had a great time on our honeymoon eating, drinking, and sightseeing in the Cinque Terre and in Tuscany. This July 2009, we expanded our horizons to Eastern Europe and visited the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Croatia. Two of my favorite dishes on the trip were Croatian: fish brodet and Hvarska gregada. I am looking forward to trying my hand at making them at home as I see that someone on Zaar, who is Croatian, posted recipes for both!
Besides my husband, the other lights of my life are my cats: Chloe, Pip, and my newest ragdoll cat, Giselle, all of whom I absolutely adore.
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