Feel Good Pasta
Creamy Spicy Sausage Pasta Bake
Serves 4
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 courgette, diced
1 red pepper, diced
3 cloves of garlic, crushed
8 fresh Italian sausages, cut into small 1-inch pieces
1 x tin of tomatoes
1 tablespoon of tomato puree
2 teaspoons of dried oregano, thyme, mint, rosemary or fresh basil
1 teaspoon chilli flakes
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
500g (1 pack) rigatoni, fusilli, penne or other bite sized pasta, cooked
80g parmesan, cheddar or any other hard cheese
100g fresh breadcrumbs
80g butter, melted
4 tablespoons of fresh ricotta cheese or 2 fresh mozzarella
METHOD:
1. Preheat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF/gas 6.
2. Place a casserole dish or saucepan over a low heat and add one tablespoon of olive oil, stir in the onions, courgette and red pepper – cover and leave to cook for two minutes, then add the garlic, and cook for a further minute.
3. Stir in the fresh sausages – and cook until the sausages are golden in colour, about 5 minutes.
4. Pour in the tinned tomatoes, tomato puree, herbs, and chilli flakes – season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir well and leave it to cook for 5 minutes.
5. Meanwhile mix the breadcrumb with the melted butter and grated parmesan cheese.
6. Stir in the cooked pasta to the sausage and tomato sauce and mix well. Then tip it all into a baking / roasting dish.
7. Spoon the breadcrumb mixture on top of the pasta to create a thin layer.
8. If you are adding fresh ricotta or mozzarella, then make little pockets in the pasta bake and spoon the soft cheese in.
9. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 15 minutes or until the top is golden.
