Karp Family Recipes

Italian Style Sausage Ragu

Category: Dips, Sauces, Spreads

Ingredients:

* 1 lb cooked pasta, your choice (I prefer whole wheat spaghetti or linguine for this sauce.) * 1 lb Italian sausage, cut in thin rounds or crumbled (bulk or link, hot mild or sweet, your choice here. I actually prefer turkey sausage for this.) * 1 small onion, chopped * 5 cloves garlic, chopped * 2 tbsp tomato paste * 2 roasted red peppers, chopped (jarred is fine, just pull out 2 full skins) * 1 28 0z. can crushed tomatoes * 2 3/4 cup chicken stock * 1 tsp. dried basil * 1 tsp. dried oregano * 1 tsp. dried thyme * 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar * 1/4 cup Marsala (you may substitute sherry or 1/4 cup port wine) * 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil * Salt and pepper to taste * 1 tsp. fennel seeds, crushed (if desired) * Parmesan Cheese for garnish Method:

Directions:

Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and a pinch of salt. Cook stirring often, until translucent. Add garlic and red peppers and cook for approximately 5 minutes, stirring often. Add tomato paste and cook until it no longer smells “raw”, approximately 3 minutes. Remove pot from flame and add Marsala. (This is a fortified wine, it can ignite!) Return pot to heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly to avoid sticking. Add remaining ingredients, including raw sausage, bring just to a boil, reduce heat until liquid is at a bare simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until reduced by approximately 1/4 volume. Check for seasoning and make additions if necessary. Return to a simmer, stirring occasionally, for approximately 45 minutes or until sauce has reduced by nearly half and color has Gone from bright red to a deep, rich red color. If sauce is too thick, add a ladle of pasta water or a little more chicken stock and simmer an additional 15 minutes to allow flavors to combine. If too thin, simply simmer for a little longer with a tablespoon or so of pasta water added. It will thicken nicely. Serve over pasta with slivers of Parmesan cheese.