Sausage Pasta Bake

• porce: 6
• celkový čas: 25 minutes

Ingredience

4 cups rigatoni pasta or another short pasta shape, (14 oz/400g)

7 oz Italian sausages, (200g)

2 cloves garlic, , finely chopped

1/2 cup mascarpone, (100g)

2 1/2 cups passata/crushed strained tomatoes, (700g)

1/2 cup reserved pasta water, (125ml)

1 ball fresh mozzarella, (4.4oz/125g)

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, (chilli flakes)

1 tsp oregano

salt and pepper

1 small bunch basil for garnish, (optional)

Pokyny

Preheat the oven to 350°F/180F. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and boil the pasta around 3 minutes less than advised on the packet instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup (125ml) of pasta water.

Squeeze the sausages out of their skins and brown in the pan on a medium heat. Add the finely chopped garlic, chili flakes, and oregano. Stir into the sausages and fry for 1 minute.

Add the passata (crushed strained tomatoes) along with the reserved pasta water and a good pinch of salt and pepper, simmer for around 5 minutes.

Turn the heat off and add the mascarpone, stir the sauce until the mascarpone is mixed in thoroughly.

Drain the pasta and add to the sauce, mix until it’s completely coated. Transfer the pasta to an ovenproof baking dish and top with mozzarella. Bake in the oven for around 7-8 minutes or until the mozzarella is melted and bubbling. Serve with torn basil (optional).

Poznámky

Sausages: For this recipe I always use Italian sausages but you can use any kind you like just make sure they are good quality, 95% pork or higher.

Pasta: I use rigatoni (ridged pasta tubes) but you can use any short pasta shape such as penne or fusilli.

Leftovers: Leftover baked pasta will keep well for about 2 days covered in the fridge. You can re-heat it in the oven or eat it cold.

Freezing: Yes, simply store your cooled pasta bake in a freezer-proof container and freeze. Thaw completely before reheating (ideally overnight in the fridge).

Try replacing the sausages with zucchini or eggplant (aubergine) for a veggie version.

To make this pasta bake lighter you can leave out the mascarpone and add an extra 1/2 cup (125ml) of reserved pasta water.

Try replacing the mascarpone with a splash of red wine.

Fresh red chilli and fennel seeds are great additions.