Creamy Sausage and Fennel Rigatoni

This creamy pasta dish combines savory Italian sausage, tender fennel, and a luscious cream sauce over rigatoni. It's a comforting and unique take on classic pasta.

Creamy Sausage and Fennel Rigatoni

Cook time: 45 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 12 oz rigatoni pasta
  • 0 salt for boiling water
  • 0 water for boiling
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 lb Italian sausage casings removed
  • 1 fennel bulb thinly sliced
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 0.5 cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 0.5 cup chicken broth
  • 0.5 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 0.5 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 0 freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 0 fresh basil chopped, for garnish
  • 0 freshly grated Parmesan cheese additional, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
  2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.
  3. In the same skillet, add sliced fennel and onion. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in white wine and cook for 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Add heavy cream, chicken broth, and crushed red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
  5. Return the cooked sausage to the skillet and stir to combine. Add the cooked rigatoni to the sauce and toss to coat. Stir in Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and freshly ground black pepper. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time until desired consistency is reached.
  6. Serve the creamy sausage and fennel rigatoni hot, garnished with fresh basil and additional Parmesan cheese. Enjoy the creamy, savory, and slightly spicy flavors!
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