Description
This creamy sausage rigatoni pasta, affectionately named “Date Me,” is a rich and comforting Italian-inspired dish that combines savory Italian sausage with a luscious tomato and cream sauce. Infused with fresh herbs and a touch of heat from red chili flakes, it’s a perfect meal for pasta lovers seeking a hearty, flavorful dinner.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Sauce and Sausage
- 2 Tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 large Onion, diced
- 4 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 lbs Italian Sausage (or 1 lb for less sausage)
- (2) 28-ounce cans Whole or Crushed Tomatoes
- 1/4 cup Fresh Basil, chopped (or 1 Tablespoon dried basil)
- 1/4 cup Fresh Oregano, chopped (or 1 Tablespoon dried oregano)
- 1 teaspoon Red Chili Flakes
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 1/2 cups Heavy Cream
- 1 1/2 cups Grated Parmesan Cheese (divided)
Pasta
- 1 lb Rigatoni Pasta
Instructions
- Cook Aromatics and Sausage: Heat a large pot over medium heat and add the extra-virgin olive oil. Sauté the diced onions for 7-8 minutes until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook for another 7-8 minutes until the sausage is browned and cooked through.
- Boil Pasta: In a separate large pot, bring water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add a generous amount of salt to season the water, then add the rigatoni pasta. Cook according to package instructions until al dente.
- Prepare Tomato Sauce: Add the canned tomatoes to the sausage mixture in the pot. If using whole tomatoes, blend them until smooth before adding. Stir in fresh basil, oregano, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to allow it to simmer gently.
- Add Cream and Cheese: Stir in the heavy cream and 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese into the sauce. Lower the heat to medium-low and let the sauce simmer, thickening slightly to develop deep flavors.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Drain the cooked rigatoni pasta thoroughly and add it to the simmering sauce. For a thicker sauce consistency, allow the sauce to simmer an additional 10 minutes before combining with pasta if desired.
- Final Seasoning and Serve: Taste the pasta and sauce to adjust seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed. Serve hot, garnished with the remaining 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves.
Notes
- For less sausage, reduce the amount to 1 lb without altering other ingredients.
- If fresh herbs are unavailable, dried basil and oregano can substitute at one-third the quantity.
- Blending whole tomatoes creates a smoother sauce texture; crushed tomatoes work if preferred chunkier.
- Simmering sauce longer thickens it, so adjust depending on your desired sauce consistency.
- This sauce also pairs well with other pasta types like penne or ziti.
