Pasta with Fennel and Sausage
(from Lucianolinda’s recipe box)
Source: Chicago Tribune- Joe Gray
Serves 4 peopleCategories: Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb. penne pasta
- 1 lb. Italian turkey or pork sausage, casings removed
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil, optional
- 1 large fennel bulb OR 2 medium, about 1 lb. when trimmed
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves OR 1/2 tsp. dried
- 15 pitted Kalamata olives, quartered lengthwise
Directions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of well-salted boiling water until al dente; drain, saving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
- Meanwhile, brown the sausage over medium-high heat in a large skillet, breaking up the pieces with a wooden spoon; cook until no pink remains, 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
- Cut the fennel into slices, about 1/4 inch thick; cut those slices crosswise into sticks, again about 1/4 inch.
- Add olive oil to skillet, if needed to cook fennel. Add fennel; season with salt. Cook over medium heat until softened and caramelized, 10 minutes.
- Stir in wine; cook to reduce by half. Ass the cream, thyme and sausage. Simmer until the sausage is thickened slightly.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet along with the olives. Toss to coat the pasta. Add some of the reserved hot pasta water if dish seems dry.