Using all local ingredients for this Tomato Sausage Pasta recipe delivers a festival of flavor each time I prepare this easy recipe. So as summer draws to a close, I am thinking of how fast the time goes when we have sweet, beautiful, vine ripe tomatoes, it always surprises me. And one of the dishes I love to make with Summer tomatoes is a quick and simple pasta dish with Italian sausages, tomatoes, garlic, basil and fresh pasta for this all local Tomato Sausage Pasta recipe. So this past weekend I picked up some fresh Casarecce pasta from Alfresco Pasta, a few red & yellow tomatoes from my friend Lauren at Bloomsbury Farm and delicious local sausages from Bill & LeeAnn Cherry at Bear Creek Farm. It was fantastic and truly captured the pure taste of Summer.
Summer Tomatoes with Sausage and Fresh Pasta
Serves 4-6
1 pound fresh Casarecce pasta
4 Italian sausages
2 pounds of vine ripe tomatoes, diced
4 garlic cloves, sliced thinly
fresh basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
2oz. parmesan cheese
Heat an iron skillet over medium heat, when hot add the local sausages. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until cooked trough. Remove form the skillet and set aside. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the pork fat and then add the sliced garlic, crushed red pepper and some black pepper. Sauté for 1 minute then add the diced tomatoes and a pinch of salt. Cook the tomatoes for 2-3 minutes until the the sauce reduces a little bit and begins to thicken. Turn off the the heat and let rest while you cook the pasta.
Using local meats like this locally blended sausage from Bear Creek Farm delivers added local flavor!
Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in a sauce pan, then add a pinch of salt and then the pasta. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until tender. Drain the pasta but reserve a 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking liquid. As the pasta cooks slice the sausages into 1/2 inch rounds, then add them to the skillet with the tomatoes. When the pasta is ready add it to the skillet with a little of the pasta water. Turn the skillet back on to medium heat and toss everything together until the sauce begins to coat the pasta and is warmed though, about 2 minutes. When the pasta is piping hot turn off the heat and serve in shallow bowls. Quickly chop the fresh basil and divide between each bowl, then grate the parmesan over the pasta a serve. Using all local ingredients from our farmers market will deliver more flavor and a new Tomato Sausage Pasta we hope you enjoy!
Chef Michael Martin
South Fork Catering Co.
