Rigatoni With Sweet Sausages In Creamy Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

• •4 sweet Italian sausages
• •1 leek
• •1 tablespoon sage
• •2 garlic cloves
• •½ medium onion
• •28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
• •1 pound rigatoni
• •1 cup milk
• •½ teaspoon thyme
• •¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• •1 tablespoon butter
• •3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• •2 teaspoons sugar
• •salt & pepper

Method

Adapted from foodista.com

1. 1Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
2. 2Chop the onions, garlic, and set aside.
3. 3Chop the leek (cut in ½ lengthwise first & make sure to rinse very well!!) and set aside (separate from the onions & garlic).
4. 4Chop the sage & set aside separately as well.
5. 5To easily remove the casings, lightly slice each sausage lengthwise.
6. 6Peel off with your fingers.
7. 7In a large pan over medium/high heat, cook the sausages until they are a nice golden brown. While cooking, break apart the mixture until it looks like ground meat.
8. 8Take the meat out of the pan and save it in a bowl.
9. 9Add 2 tbsp olive oil and add the sage to the pan.
10. 10Cook for a minute, add the leeks & cayenne pepper.
11. 11Cook for 2 to 3 minutes and put the meat back in the pan.
12. 12When the leek is cooked, turn off the heat and keep in the mixture in the pan.
13. 13In a medium size pot over medium/ high heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil, thyme, garlic & onions.
14. 14Cook for 3-4 minutes, until onions are translucent.
15. 15Add crushed tomatoes.
16. 16Lower the heat.
17. 17Simmer for about 20 minutes (with a lose lid, otherwise the sauce will splatter all over your kitchen walls!).
18. 18Add sugar and about 1 tsp kosher salt (½ tsp for regular salt).
19. 19Stir.
20. 20Cook for another 2 minutes.
21. 21Puree the tomatoes until smooth.
22. 22Add milk and butter.
23. 23Stir.
24. 24Keep the heat on very low or turn off until you are ready to serve.
25. 25Add the rigatoni to the boiling salted water and cook until al dente, 11 to 13 minutes, then drain.
26. 26When rigatoni is cooked, add to the hot pan with the sausage mixture.
27. 27Stir well.
28. 28Add a little olive oil if it looks dry.
29. 29Plate.
30. 30Add tomato sauce to the pasta.
31. 31Serve this way or with parmesan.