Description
This creamy rigatoni with sausage and fennel is last-meal good. Made with al dente rigatoni noodles, crumbly Italian sausage and crunchy fennel or celery, it’s everything you want in a pasta dish and more.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cups chopped fresh fennel or celery
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1 lb bulk mild Italian sausage
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon whole fennel seeds, crushed or chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2/3 cup half-and-half
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 lb rigatoni pasta
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, divided
- 1 cup fresh-grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Instructions
- In large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add fennel and onion and cook, stirring often, 7 to 9 minutes until soft. Add sausage; cook 7 to 9 minutes, crumbling as you cook, until sausage is cooked through and browned. Add garlic, crushed fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Cook for 1 minute, then pour in white wine. Bring to boil. Add heavy cream, half-and-half and tomato paste. Return to boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens.
- Meanwhile, bring large pot of water to boil. Add 2 tablespoons salt to boiling water, then add rigatoni pasta. Cook according to package directions. Drain and add to sauce; stir to coat pasta.
- Off heat, stir in 1/4 cup parsley and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Serve topped with remaining parsley and Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- To make ahead: Put finished dish in an oven-safe dish, sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese, cover and refrigerate for up to a day/overnight. When you’re ready to serve, uncover pasta and heat in the oven at 375°F for 20 minutes.
Keywords: Ina Garten pasta, creamy pasta sauce, Italian sausage pasta, creamy tomato sauce