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A white bowl of sausage and fennel pasta sprinkled with parmesan.

Sausage and Fennel Pasta

Robyn
This sausage and fennel pasta is an easy family dinner made with a handful basic budget friendly ingredients and is loved by kids.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course dinner
Cuisine International
Servings 4 people
Calories 701 kcal

Equipment

  • large pot
  • large frying pan / skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion diced
  • 500 g pork sausages
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 tablespoon tomato puree tomato paste
  • 800 g tin chopped tomatoes
  • 225 g dried pasta rigatoni or penne
  • salt
  • pepper
  • parmesan cheese for serving, optional
  • fresh basil for serving, optional

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet or pan over a medium heat. Fry the diced onion for 5-7 minutes, until starting to soften. Remove to a plate and set aside, leaving any oil in the pan.
  • Squeeze the sausage meat from the casings into the same skillet / pan and cook for 5 minutes over a medium to high heat until golden, breaking the sausage meat up with a wooden spoon.
  • Add the minced garlic and fennel seeds and cook for a minute, until fragrant. Then add the tomato paste / tomato puree and return the onions to the pan.
  • Pour in the tomatoes and season with salt and black pepper.
  • Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer gently for 10-15 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly and the sausage meat is cooked.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta according to the packet instructions.
  • Drain the pasta, reserving a cup of the pasta cooking water, and toss with the sauce, adding a little of the pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
  • Spoon into bowls, sprinkle with grated parmesan and chopped fresh basil, if using, and serve immediately.

Notes

Make ahead/Storage

Make ahead/ meal prep - if you want to make this ahead, note that the pasta will absorb the sauce as it sits. It still tastes great, but you will just need to add a splash of water or some stock / broth as you reheat it.
Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in short bursts in the microwave, stirring in between, until piping hot all the way through, adding a splash of water if it seems dry.
Freezer: You can freeze the pasta for up to 3 months. Or freeze the cooked sauce for up to 3 months, then defrost, heat through in a pan until hot all the way through and stir through your favourite cooked pasta!

Nutrition

Calories: 701kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 28gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 1087mgPotassium: 884mgFiber: 5gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 350IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 101mgIron: 4mg
Keyword sausage fennel pasta, sausage pasta

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