Spicy Sausage Ragù Pasta - beautifully plated pasta dish

Spicy Sausage Ragù Pasta

Crumbled Italian sausage in a rich, spicy tomato ragù with fennel and red pepper. Bold and comforting.

Prep Time

10 min

Cook Time

30 min

Servings

4

Calories

480

Ingredients

  • 400 g pasta (your choice of shape)
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (796ml) San Marzano crushed tomatoes
  • 0.25 cup fresh basil leaves
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. 1

    Cook the Pasta

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.

  2. 2

    Prepare the Base

    While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

  3. 3

    Build the Sauce

    Add the main sauce ingredients to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until the flavours meld together, about 3-5 minutes.

  4. 4

    Combine

    Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss vigorously, adding pasta water as needed to achieve a silky consistency that coats every strand.

  5. 5

    Serve

    Plate immediately and garnish with fresh herbs and freshly grated cheese. Serve hot with crusty bread on the side.

Chef's Notes

I add a pinch of sugar to tomato sauce only if the tomatoes taste acidic. Good San Marzanos shouldn't need it.

Chef Luca Bianchi

Nutrition Facts

480

cal

23g

Protein

13g

Fat

62g

Carbs

7g

Fiber

389mg

Sodium

Tips & Tricks

  • Always salt your pasta water generously — it should taste like the sea.
  • Reserve a cup of starchy pasta water before draining. It's liquid gold for emulsifying sauces.
  • Cook pasta 1 minute less than the package says if finishing it in the sauce.

Reviews (3)

Marie L.★★★★★

Made this last night and my family loved it! The sauce was perfect and so easy to make. Will definitely be adding this to our regular rotation.

Michael W.★★★★★

This recipe is a keeper. Great balance of flavours and the cooking times are spot on. My new favourite pasta dish.

Sarah M.★★★★★

So glad I found this recipe. The instructions are clear and the result is consistently great. I've made it four times already.