-
1
1.
-
2
Cook pasta in a large pot of very salty water until al dente.
-
3
(I like to prep all the sauce ingredients while the pasta cooks!)
-
4
2.
-
5
Drain cooked pasta in a colander and return the empty pot to the stove.
-
6
3.
-
7
Heat olive oil in the pot over medium heat until the oil shimmers.
-
8
4.
-
9
Add diced onion and minced garlic to oil and give it a stir.
-
10
Let the onions cook until they are translucent and caramelize a bit, about 6 minutes.
-
11
5.
-
12
Add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to the pot and stir to incorporate.
-
13
6.
-
14
Add the Italian sausage to the pot and break it up into clumps with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
-
15
7.
-
16
Cook until the sausage is cooked through, about 8 minutes.
-
17
8.
-
18
Add red wine to the pot to deglaze.
-
19
Scrape any drippings off the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon.
-
20
Dont neglect the drippingstheres a ton of flavor in there!
-
21
9.
-
22
Add balsamic vinegar and crushed tomatoes to sauce and stir to combine.
-
23
Bring sauce to a simmer.
-
24
10.
-
25
Stir chopped arugula into sauce and remove sauce from heat.
-
26
Give it a taste and add seasoning as necessary.
-
27
Dont be afraid to use saltit really cuts the taste of the tomato and brings out the flavor of the sauce!
-
28
11.
-
29
Return the drained pasta to the pot and stir until sauce evenly coats the pasta.
-
30
Serve immediately.
-
31
Notes: 1.
-
32
This pasta has a nice, spicy kick to it.
-
33
For a milder version, substitute mild Italian sausage or regular ground pork for the hot Italian sausage.
-
34
Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to suit your taste.
-
35
2.
-
36
Top pasta with a handful of fresh arugula for a fun, fresh garnish.
-
37
3.
-
38
You could also place the prepared pasta in an oven-safe dish (if you use a Dutch oven for the whole thing, you dont even have to dirty another dish), top with shredded mozzarella, and bake until the cheese melts for a delicious pasta bake!
-
39
I topped the fresh-made pasta with fresh arugula, but when we ate the leftovers I topped the pasta with mozzarella and baked it.
-
40
Both serving options were very good decisions.
