Penne In Cream Sauce with Sweet Italian Sausage

After a day digging in the trenches spring cleaning, there was only one requirement for last night's dinner...carbs and cream. OK so that's 2.

Making good use of items in a darn near empty cupboard, this particular pasta version is quick to put together and disappeared even faster. Sauteed shallots, garlic, sweet Italian sausage, a splash of dry vermouth, fresh chopped tomato, a little cream, some freshly grated parmesan and before you knew it, I was having dinner with Brian - as in Brian Williams and the NBC evening news. Hey - what's a girl to do when the big guy's outa' town?

Speaking of the big guy, I'm quite certain had he been here, he would have loaded his serving with a ton of pepper flakes as would I just to keep him company, but honestly I quite enjoyed the subtle flavor of the sweet Italian sausage. The butcher had included a little tarragon in his recipe and the flavor really came out in the pasta. Come to think of it, I should have replaced the tomato with some green peas. Darn! Talk about a missed opportunity.

Penne in Cream Sauce with Sausage (inspired by Nick Stellino)

Four ounces of penne made two large servings, but feel free to double or triple the recipe to satisfy more people.

1 tablespoon butter

1 shallot, minced

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 ounces sweet Italian sausage, crumbled

1/3 cup dry white vermouth or white wine

1 medium fresh tomato, diced

1/2 cup heavy cream

4 ounces dry penne, cooked per package directions

1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Chopped fresh parsley

Heat butter in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add shallot and garlic and cook stirring occasionally until shallot is softened, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add Italian sausage and sauté, stirring to crumble, until no longer pink. Add vermouth and simmer until wine is almost completely evaporated – 3 or 4 minutes. Add tomato and simmer until tomato has softened somewhat, then add cream and cook briefly till sauce has thickened. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat with sauce before adding parmesan and parsley. Lower heat and hold briefly to give pasta a chance to absorb the sauce. Serve with additional parmesan cheese and coarse ground black pepper. Serves 2 Download Penne In Cream Sauce with Sausage

 

 

Comments

[Nanan]

I was wondering why there was no peas in there! HA! The big guy is having perfect March weather down here! Wish you could have come here so I could have met ya'll - instead - I have been working in my yard - life is good!

[June]

Me too Lea, but we'd likely get in way too much trouble together! Ha.

[Sophia]

Looks beautiful!

[June]

Thanks Sophia - it was plenty delish and enough for several meals.