Baked Rigatoni With Spicy Italian Sausage

I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy a nice baked pasta. The only problem is that it can be a pain in the patooty to make. Not this particular one, its yummy and has a flavor profile. Start to finish it should take 1 hour. Make sure you use great ingredients and you will get great flavor.

Ingredients:

3 hot Italian sausage links (make sure they are of good quality)
1 pound of rigatoni
1 32oz can or crushed tomato
16oz of water or red wine
1 tbs dried basil
1tbs dried oregano
2 bay leaves
1 medium onion diced
4 cloves of garlic diced
1 tbs sugar
2 tbs olive oil
1 cup of cheese (we use mozzarella flavored rice cheese)

preheat oven to 350 degrees, take a stock pot and prepare water for pasta, and cook according to the package. Drain and place pasta back into the pot

.In a pot on medium heat saute onion, garlic and herbs in 1 tbs of olive oil until the onion is translucent. 

 Then add crushed tomato, half a can of vino or water. Lower heat and simmer until reduced by 1/2 about 30mins.

In a skillet on med/high heat cook sausage links, add 1/2 a cup of water and cover. Let sausage rest for 5 mins.

Cut sausage on a bias.

In the pot with the pasta add half of the sauce and the sliced sausage and mix, spoon this mixture in a baking dish. Top the pasta with the rest of the sauce.

 

Bake for 20 mins and add cheese if desired.

Enjoy!