Spaghetti Sauce With Italian Sausage And Peppers
If you're looking for a hearty and flavorful pasta sauce, look no further than spaghetti sauce with Italian sausage and peppers. This classic combination of ingredients is a favorite in many households, and for good reason. The sausage adds a savory meatiness to the sauce, while the peppers add a touch of sweetness and a little bit of crunch. In this article, we'll share a recipe for making this delicious sauce from scratch, along with some tips for customizing it to your liking.
Ingredients
Before we get started with the recipe, let's take a look at the ingredients you'll need to make spaghetti sauce with Italian sausage and peppers:
- 1 pound Italian sausage (sweet or hot, depending on your preference)
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 bell peppers, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil
Instructions
Now that you have all your ingredients ready, it's time to start cooking:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil and swirl to coat the pan.
- Add the Italian sausage to the pan and cook until browned and cooked through, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks. Remove the sausage from the pan and set it aside.
- Add the diced onion and bell peppers to the same pan and sauté until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute, until fragrant.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried basil, dried oregano, sugar, salt, and pepper to the pan. Stir to combine.
- Return the cooked sausage to the pan and stir to combine with the sauce.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours if you have the time. The longer it simmers, the more flavorful it will become.
- Serve the sauce over cooked spaghetti or your favorite pasta, topped with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Customizations
While the recipe above is delicious as written, there are plenty of ways to customize it to your liking. Here are a few ideas:
- Use different types of sausage: While Italian sausage is traditional, you could also try using chorizo, bratwurst, or another type of sausage for a different flavor.
- Add more vegetables: If you want to up the nutritional content of the sauce, try adding some chopped zucchini or eggplant along with the peppers and onions.
- Make it spicier: If you like your food with a kick, use hot Italian sausage and add some red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Use fresh herbs: While dried herbs are convenient, using fresh herbs like basil, oregano, or parsley will give the sauce an even fresher taste.
Conclusion
Spaghetti sauce with Italian sausage and peppers is a delicious and satisfying meal that's easy to make from scratch. By following the recipe above and customizing it to your liking, you can create a sauce that's perfect for your taste buds. So why not give it a try tonight?