Here is a fast and tasty pasta dish that will satisfy completely.  It is a simple Italian based red sauce with lots of flavor – and completely open to your own interpretations. Some options are to add red wine, substitute vodka and cream for the tomato sauce, adding oregano, roasted red peppers, or red pepper flakes. Of course, the Italian sausage used will also impact the flavor! Are you ready? Great, then let’s get cooking!

Sausage and Mushroom Sauce with Penne

Ingredients:

• 6 oz of Italian sausage
• 5 – 6 oz penna pasta (cook per the instructions and drain well)
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 8 oz tomato sauce
• 4 oz mushrooms, diced (fresh or canned)
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp basil
• 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
• 1 tsp olive oil
• salt and pepper as desired
• Parmesan, Asiago, Romano, and/or mozzarella cheese (optional)
• parsley (optional)

Preparation:

Heat a small sauce pan over medium heat.

Add the olive oil and when shimmering, add the sausage.

Brown and crumble the sausage until the raw pink color is gone. Add the onions and sweat until translucent. If using fresh mushrooms, add them at this point to saute them lightly. If using canned mushrooms, drain well and dice and add them with the tomato sauce in a later step.

When the onions are translucent, add the tomato paste and garlic.

Stir and cook the tomato paste throughout the sausage and onion mixture.

Add the mushrooms, tomato sauce, basil and Italian seasoning.

Stir to combine and reduce the heat to lightly simmer while the pasta cooks. Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper as needed.

When the pasta is done and drained, serve the sauce over the pasta, sprinkle with cheese and/or parsley (optional).