SPICY ITALIAN SAUSAGE PASTA RECIPES RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Crumble the chillies into a pestle and mortar, then bash with the fennel seeds until coarsely crushed. Put to one side.
  2. Heat a lug of olive oil in a heavy-bottomed frying pan over a high heat. Squeeze the meat out of the sausage skins or add the pork mince to the pan, really breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon. Fry for a few minutes, or until the meat starts to colour and the fat has rendered slightly, then push it down once more so it resembles coarse mince.
  3. Add the bashed-up fennel seeds and chillies and cook over a medium heat for around 10 minutes, or until the meat becomes crisp, golden brown and slightly caramelised.
  4. Stir in the oregano, then pour in the white wine and allow it to reduce by half. Finely grate over the zest of 1 lemon, then squeeze over the juice and turn the heat down to low.
  5. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pan of salted boiling water according to the packet instructions.
  6. When the pasta has cooked but still has a bit of bite, drain it in a colander, reserving a mugful of the cooking water. Add the pasta to the meat pan, then toss to coat in all those lovely flavours, loosening with a good splash of the reserved cooking water, if needed.
  7. Grate in the Parmesan, then pick, roughly chop and add the parsley leaves. Taste and check the seasoning, then serve immediately with a little extra grated Parmesan sprinkled over the top.
  8. Jamie’s top tip Remember to buy the best sausages you can afford – if you get cheap, dodgy sausages it just won’t work.

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in boiling salted water for 9-12 minutes until tender. Drain and return to the pan with 2 tbsp of the cooking water.
• Meanwhile, heat half the oil in a pan and fry the onion and leek for 15 minutes until soft and starting to brown. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Remove and set aside.
• Add the remaining oil to the pan, then fry the sausage and chilli until crisply golden. Put the onion mixture back in the pan, add the cream and stock, then simmer for 5 minutes.
• Season well, then add the parsley and cooked pasta with a squeeze of lemon juice. Toss, then serve.