Rigatoni with Sweet Sausage & Tomato Sauce

  Posted on February 23, 2012  by Leslie Blythe  No comments

Here is a recipe from the Sopranos.  It’s really easy and you can make the sauce ahead.  It’s amazing that the sauce has so few ingredients, but it’s big on flavor.

Rigatoni with Sweet Sausage & Tomato Sauce

Serves 6

1 lb Italian pork sausage
2 Tbs olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
½ cup dry white wine
28 oz can peeled Italian tomatoes, passed through a food mill
salt and pepper
3 – 4 fresh basil leaves, torn into pieces
1 lb rigatoni pasta
½ cup fresh grated romano cheese

Remove the sausage from the casings and chop the meat fine.

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the sausage and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until the sausage is lightly browned.  Add the wine and bring to a simmer.  Cook until most of the wine evaporates.  Stir in the tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened, about an hour and a half. Stir in the basil.

Meanwhile, bring at least 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot over high heat.

Add the rigatoni and some salt. Cook, stirring occasionally until the rigatoni is al dente, tender yet still firm to the bite. Drain.

In a large heated serving bowl, toss the rigatoni with the sauce.

Serve with the grated cheese.