Simple & Savory Linguica Sausage Pasta

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 pounds Silva Portugese Linguica sausage* (available at Costco), sliced
1 cup finely diced onion
1/2 cup finely diced carrot
2 garlic cloves, minced
2-28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes
1/3 cup tomato paste
1 1/2 cups water
2 teaspoons dried basil (you can also use fresh)
1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 tsp dried dill
1 to 2 tablespoons sugar (depending on taste)
1 to 2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tsp red chili flakes

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus 1/4 cup for topping)

1 box of your favorite pasta, cooked and drained

green onions, finely sliced

2 Roma tomatoes, finely chopped

Directions:

Heat a heavy 4 to 5-quart pot over medium heat. Add olive oil then add the sausage and cook until browned. About 5 minutes. Remove from pan. 

 Add onion, carrots and a 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and starting to brown. About 8 minutes.

Now, add garlic, basil and oregano to onions and carrot then cook about 1 minute until garlic becomes fragrant. Next, add crushed tomatoes and use a wooden spoon to scrape up the brown bits that are stuck to the pot. Add sausage into sauce and stir.

Add tomato paste, water, sugar,salt, dill, red chili flakes and pepper. Bring to a simmer, stir then taste for seasoning. Depending on how acidic your tomatoes are, you may need a little more sugar. You also want to taste for salt. It’s best to add the salt now rather than later, so taste and season as needed.

Gently simmer sauce, uncovered for 1 hour. Add cheese and stir until mixed. Serve over a bed of pasta and sprinkle with cheese and sliced green onions. Enjoy!

* You can substitute the linguica sausage if it is not available.

Recipe adapted from: www.inspiredtaste.net