Side Sausage (2) Recipe

Sausage and Sauce

1. 1

   Prepare ingredients

   Peel and thinly slice half a yellow onion. Mince 2 cloves of garlic. Measure out crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, broth and seasonings so everything is ready to use.

2. 2

   Brown the sausages

   Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 sweet Italian sausage links and brown on all sides, about 3–4 minutes per side, turning with tongs. Cook until nicely browned but not fully cooked through. Transfer sausages to a plate and set aside.

3. 3

   Sauté aromatics

   Reduce heat to medium. If needed, add a little more oil (up to 1 teaspoon). Add the sliced onion to the skillet and sauté 4–5 minutes until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and sauté 30–45 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly so it doesn't burn.

4. 4

   Make the sauce

   Stir in 1 tablespoon tomato paste and cook 1 minute to deepen flavor. Add 1 cup crushed tomatoes and 1/4 cup broth, stirring to combine and deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Add 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon dried basil, 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Stir well.

5. 5

   Simmer with sausages

   Return the browned sausage links to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover the skillet partially and simmer 12–15 minutes, turning the sausages once halfway through, until sausages are cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) and the sauce is slightly thickened.

6. 6

   Finish and serve

   Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with a pinch more salt or pepper if needed. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley over the sausages (optional). Serve two sausage links with sauce spooned over or alongside as a side portion.