Ingredients
Scale
- 400 g (14 oz) rigatoni
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) pork and fennel sausages, meat squeezed from casings
- 1 tbsp freshly grated garlic
- 1 tbsp tomato paste (concentrated puree)
- 400 g (14 oz) canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup (250 ml) thickened (heavy) cream
- 2 cups (90 g) baby spinach leaves
- ½ tsp sea salt flakes
- ½ tsp cracked black pepper
- 1 cup (100 g) freshly grated parmesan, plus extra to serve
- ¼ bunch basil, leaves picked, to serve
Instructions
- Cook the rigatoni as per the packet directions minus 1 minute – it will finish cooking when combined with the sauce. Reserve ½ cup (125 ml) of the pasta cooking water (take it out of the pot using a ladle or mug while the pasta is cooking). Drain the pasta.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan over medium–high heat. Add the sausages and cook, turning, for 3–4 minutes until golden, breaking them up as you go. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the tomato paste and stir it through for 30 seconds, then add the crushed tomatoes, cream, baby spinach, salt and pepper.
- Simmer for about 5–6 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken. Add the parmesan and the cooked pasta and stir them through – add the reserved pasta cooking water to loosen the sauce if needed. Serve with the extra parmesan and basil leaves.
Notes
MAKE AHEAD
Sauce – Prepare the sauce as per the recipe. For best results, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw completely in the fridge overnight before reheating. Serve with freshly cooked pasta or see below.
Pasta – Cooked pasta can also be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw completely in the fridge overnight before reheating and tossing through the pasta sauce.
LEFTOVERS
Refrigerate for up to 2 days. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw completely in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Mains, Pasta, Quick and Easy
- Method: Pan-frying, Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired, Family-friendly