Rigatoni With Fennel Sausage Sauce
Rigatoni With Fennel Sausage Sauce is a classic Italian dish that holds a distinguished place in traditional cooking. Celebrated for its wholesome ingredients and time-honored preparation, this dish brings authentic regional character to the home kitchen.
Carefully prepared featuring Italian fennel sausages, onion, fennel bulb, smoky paprika, garlic, fennel seeds, red wine, chopped tomatoes, caster sugar, pitted black olives, rigatoni, pecorino, anchovy fillet, garlic and basil leaves, the ingredients are simmered and seasoned to achieve a satisfying depth of flavor. True to traditional Italian cooking, the dish focuses on relying on ingredient purity, fresh herbs, aromatic garlic, and rich extra-virgin olive oil.
In authentic Italian tradition, Rigatoni With Fennel Sausage Sauce is best presented with crusty artisan bread and a light green salad.
If you enjoy authentic Italian cooking, be sure to also explore our recipe for Budino Di Ricotta.
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Ingredients
- olive oil2½ tbsp
- Italian fennel sausages6 cut into 1.5cm-thick slices
- onion1 large peeled and chopped
- fennel bulb1 trimmed and roughly chopped; reserve any fronds to garnish
- smoky paprika½ tsp
- garlic1 clove, peeled and sliced
- fennel seeds2 tsp lightly toasted and then gently crushed
- red wine100ml
- chopped tomatoes400g tinned
- caster sugar½ tsp
- pitted black olives50g cut in half lengthways
- rigatoni500g
- pecorino30g roughly crumbled into 0.5cm pieces
- anchovy fillet1 rinsed and patted dry
- garlic1 clove, peeled and crushed
- olive oil60ml
- basil leaves50g torn
Step-by-Step Instructions
14 stepsInteractive Cook Mode: Click any step or circle to check it off as you cook.
Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large saute pan for which you have a lid.
Add the sausage pieces and fry on a medium-high heat for 10 minutes, stirring regularly, until golden-brown all over.
Transfer the sausages to a plate, then add the onion and fennel to the hot pan and fry for 15 minutes, stirring once in a while, until soft and caramelised; if the pan goes a bit dry, add a teaspoon or so of extra oil.
Stir in the paprika, garlic and half the fennel seeds, fry for two minutes more, then pour on the wine and boil for 30 seconds, to reduce by half.
Add the tomatoes, sugar, 100ml water, the seared sausage and half a teaspoon of salt, cover and simmer for 30 minutes; remove the lid after 10 minutes, and cook until the sauce is thick and rich.
Remove from the heat, stir through the olives and remaining fennel seeds and set aside until you’re ready to serve.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta and cook for 12-14 minutes (or according to the instructions on the packet), until al dente.
Meanwhile, reheat the sauce.
Drain the pasta, return it to the pot, stir in a tablespoon of oil, then divide between the bowls.
Put all the pesto ingredients except the basil in the small bowl of a food processor.
Add a tablespoon of water and blitz to a rough paste.
Add the basil, then blitz until just combined (the pesto has a much better texture if the basil is not overblended).
Spoon over the ragù and top with a spoonful of pesto.
Finish with a sprinkling of chopped fennel fronds, if you have any, and serve at once.
👨🍳 Chef's Culinary Notes
Cultural Heritage
Rigatoni With Fennel Sausage Sauce reflects the timeless heritage of traditional Italian home cooking, relying on ingredient purity, fresh herbs, aromatic garlic, and rich extra-virgin olive oil. Prepared for generations for family gatherings and celebrations, it represents the heart of regional culinary identity.
Dietary Substitutions
For a richer sauce, replace a portion of the water with homemade bone broth, vegetable stock, or a splash of dry wine or red wine vinegar to cut through richness.
Chef Technique Tips
Take the time to thoroughly sear and brown italian fennel sausages in batches before adding the braising liquid. The caramelized fond deposited on the bottom of the pot dissolves into the stew, providing depth and body that cannot be rushed.
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