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Chestnuts give Rach's hot sausage ragu a unique flavor and texture.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound hot Italian sausage, homemade* or store-bought
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon rosemary, finely chopped
  • 1 cup roasted chestnuts (from a jar or vacuum-packed), finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup dry wine red or white
  • 1 cup chicken or veal stock
  • One 28- to 32-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes
  • 1 pound short-cut pasta with lines, such as rigatoni, mostaccioli or medium-large shells
  • Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, for serving
*For the Homemade Hot Italian Sausage
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 1/4 cup dry red wine
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper (pepperoncini) flakes
  • 2 teaspoons ground sweet paprika (half a palmful)
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated onion
  • 3 large cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated

Yield

Serves: 4-6

Preparation

If making homemade sausage, combine meat with wine and seasonings, and chill several hours or overnight before using for flavors to combine.

Heat olive oil in Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and brown and crumble the meat. Add onion, garlic and rosemary, and cook to soften onions, 5-6 minutes. Add chestnuts and stir a minute more; add wine and deglaze the pan. Stir in stock then tomatoes, breaking them up with a spoon. Reduce heat and simmer 20-30 minutes at a low bubble.

Bring pasta water to a full boil. Salt water and cook pasta to al dente. Add a cup of starchy pasta water to the sauce just before draining pasta then combine pasta with sauce. Serve in shallow bowls topped with Parmigiano cheese.