Description
This simple, hearty meal is bursting with flavor caramelized fennel and Italian sausage. Any one else think pasta is their #1 comfort food?
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 ounces rigatoni
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 Italian sausages
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 medium sized fennel bulbs (trimmed, cored, and thinly sliced)
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 medium shallot (minced)
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- ½ teaspoon fresh thyme
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add rigatoni and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving about ½-3/4 cup cooking liquid. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a heavy bottomed saucepan, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add sausage and cook until outside browns and inside is done, about 6-10 minutes. Transfer to cutting board. Once slightly cooled, slice into ½-1 inch pieces on the diagonal.
- Turn heat down a bit and add butter. Once butter has melted, stir in fennel and salt. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the fennel starts to brown. Add in shallot and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Next, stir in lemon juice and white wine vinegar, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 1-2 minutes.
- Turn up the heat to medium high and add sliced sausage back into saucepan. Add in pasta, a ¼ cup of reserved pasta water, Parmesan cheese, and thyme. Stir well to make sure everything is nicely coated. If pasta looks too dry, add an additional ¼ cup pasta water and continue to stir and cook. Adjust salt to taste and top with freshly ground black pepper before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main