This hearty Sausage Ragu was inspired by one of many regional dishes originating in Sardinia, Italy. It has an incredible flavor profile starting with Italian pork sausage, combined with aromatic veggies, tomatoes, wine and saffron. Check out the full recipe below. This sauce pairs perfectly with the Malloreddus Pasta that I made in the previous post. The dish is traditionally finished with Pecorino Romano cheese, and I added some fresh parsley from my herb garden. Mangia!
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3-4 servings
Ingredients:
- 4 links gluten free Italian sausage, about 10 oz.
- 15 oz. can crushed tomatoes
- 8 oz. can tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp. tomato paste
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 1/2 cup carrot, diced
- 1/4 cup celery, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp. basil
- 1/2 tsp. oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine
- pinch of saffron, combined with 1 tbsp. water
Preparation:
Heat a deep skillet with 1 tbsp. olive oil. Cut the carrots, celery and onion into small dice. Add them to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes over low heat.
 Remove the sausage casings and cut the sausage into small pieces.  Add to the skillet with the veggies.
Remove the sausage casings and cut the sausage into small pieces.  Add to the skillet with the veggies.

 When the sausage starts to brown, push the meat and veggies to the sides of the pan and add the tomato paste in the center.
When the sausage starts to brown, push the meat and veggies to the sides of the pan and add the tomato paste in the center.
 Let it toast for a few minutes, then stir it into the sausage and veggies.
Let it toast for a few minutes, then stir it into the sausage and veggies.
 Add the wine, and saffron water, garlic, basil, oregano and bay leaf.
Add the wine, and saffron water, garlic, basil, oregano and bay leaf.
 Let the wine cook off for a few minutes, then add the crushed tomatoes and the tomato sauce.  Stir well, and simmer 30-45 minutes with the lid slightly ajar to allow the sauce to thicken as it cooks.  Stir the sauce every 10 minutes while it simmers.
Let the wine cook off for a few minutes, then add the crushed tomatoes and the tomato sauce.  Stir well, and simmer 30-45 minutes with the lid slightly ajar to allow the sauce to thicken as it cooks.  Stir the sauce every 10 minutes while it simmers.
 Serve this wonderful sauce over your favorite pasta and finish with grated cheese.  Pecorino Romano is traditional with this dish, but you can use Parmigiano Reggiano.
Serve this wonderful sauce over your favorite pasta and finish with grated cheese.  Pecorino Romano is traditional with this dish, but you can use Parmigiano Reggiano.
 Notes ♪ You’ll want to choose a pasta that can stand up to a chunky sauce like this.  Corkscrew pastas like fusilli, or ridged pasta like rigatoni work especially well.  For a special treat, check out the Gluten Free Malloreddus Pasta that I made from scratch to go with this sauce.
Notes ♪ You’ll want to choose a pasta that can stand up to a chunky sauce like this.  Corkscrew pastas like fusilli, or ridged pasta like rigatoni work especially well.  For a special treat, check out the Gluten Free Malloreddus Pasta that I made from scratch to go with this sauce.
Notes ♫ The sausage in this recipe contains plenty of salt, so if you are watching your sodium intake you can use unsalted tomatoes to balance things out.


 
					 
	
 
	 What about gluten?
What about gluten? Wait, no eggs?
Wait, no eggs? Another unique feature.
Another unique feature. This post contains affiliate links.
This post contains affiliate links. Whisk together the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer.  Pour in the infused liquid through a sieve, reserving the saffron threads.
Whisk together the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer.  Pour in the infused liquid through a sieve, reserving the saffron threads. Add the remaining water 1 tbsp. at a time until you have a very soft, smooth dough, like this.
Add the remaining water 1 tbsp. at a time until you have a very soft, smooth dough, like this.
 Use a spatula to gather the dough into a ball, then cover and let it rest at room temperature for about 20 minutes.
Use a spatula to gather the dough into a ball, then cover and let it rest at room temperature for about 20 minutes.
 Now roll each piece over the Malloreddus paddle, you can use your fingers or a bench knife.  Be sure to keep the paddle generously floured as you work.  A
Now roll each piece over the Malloreddus paddle, you can use your fingers or a bench knife.  Be sure to keep the paddle generously floured as you work.  A  Arrange the pasta on a lightly floured baking pan in a single layer.  I lined mine with wax paper.  At this point, you can cover the pasta with plastic wrap and refrigerate it until you are ready to start cooking.
Arrange the pasta on a lightly floured baking pan in a single layer.  I lined mine with wax paper.  At this point, you can cover the pasta with plastic wrap and refrigerate it until you are ready to start cooking. For longer term storage, place the pan in the freezer for a few hours, then transfer the pasta to a freezer safe bag.
For longer term storage, place the pan in the freezer for a few hours, then transfer the pasta to a freezer safe bag.

 
	






 
	 Read on
Read on
 Preparation:
Preparation: Next, working with one bowl at a time, add one egg to the bowl of a
Next, working with one bowl at a time, add one egg to the bowl of a  Hint: make the white dough first, so that you don’t have to wash the chopper in between batches.
Hint: make the white dough first, so that you don’t have to wash the chopper in between batches. Lightly flour a large cutting board.  Working with one color dough at a time, divide the ball in half and roll each section into a rope.  Be patient, if it doesn’t roll easily dust with a little flour and gently press down with your palms as you roll the dough back and forth.
Lightly flour a large cutting board.  Working with one color dough at a time, divide the ball in half and roll each section into a rope.  Be patient, if it doesn’t roll easily dust with a little flour and gently press down with your palms as you roll the dough back and forth. Roll each piece of dough between your palms then use your hand or a bench knife to roll it over a floured gnocchi board to create the ridges.
Roll each piece of dough between your palms then use your hand or a bench knife to roll it over a floured gnocchi board to create the ridges. Place the finished pasta in a single layer on a floured baking sheet.  I lined mine with wax paper.
Place the finished pasta in a single layer on a floured baking sheet.  I lined mine with wax paper. You can keep the pasta in the refrigerator if cooking the same day.  Beyond that I recommend freezing it in an airtight container or freezer safe bag.  I placed mine in the freezer right on the baking sheet and when they were firmed up, I transferred them to a
You can keep the pasta in the refrigerator if cooking the same day.  Beyond that I recommend freezing it in an airtight container or freezer safe bag.  I placed mine in the freezer right on the baking sheet and when they were firmed up, I transferred them to a  Making the pasta was a little time consuming, but I did it on a Sunday and froze it to have during the week.  Freezing did not affect the texture at all, and the pasta cooked perfectly to al dente.
Making the pasta was a little time consuming, but I did it on a Sunday and froze it to have during the week.  Freezing did not affect the texture at all, and the pasta cooked perfectly to al dente. 
	 If you miss boxed mixes like Rice-a-Roni® on the gluten free diet, step into the kitchen with me, and I’ll show you how I made this gluten free copycat version, all fancied up with a little bit of veggies and slivered almonds.  Only one ingredient swap was needed to make this recipe gluten free.  In place of the vermicelli, I used these thin rice noodles from Thai Kitchen.
If you miss boxed mixes like Rice-a-Roni® on the gluten free diet, step into the kitchen with me, and I’ll show you how I made this gluten free copycat version, all fancied up with a little bit of veggies and slivered almonds.  Only one ingredient swap was needed to make this recipe gluten free.  In place of the vermicelli, I used these thin rice noodles from Thai Kitchen.
 Preparation:
Preparation:




 Notes ♪♫
Notes ♪♫ 
	
 Ingredients:
Ingredients:


 Add the onions to the skillet with an additional tbsp. olive oil.  When the onions are translucent, add 2 tbsp. of the balsamic mixture.  Cook, stirring frequently until most of the liquid has evaporated.
Add the onions to the skillet with an additional tbsp. olive oil.  When the onions are translucent, add 2 tbsp. of the balsamic mixture.  Cook, stirring frequently until most of the liquid has evaporated. Return the pork chops to the skillet with the peas and drizzle with the remaining balsamic mixture.  Continue to cook for several more minutes, until the pork chops are heated through.
Return the pork chops to the skillet with the peas and drizzle with the remaining balsamic mixture.  Continue to cook for several more minutes, until the pork chops are heated through. Drain the pasta, add to the skillet and toss to coat.  Remove from heat and serve right in the pan for a casual dinner.
Drain the pasta, add to the skillet and toss to coat.  Remove from heat and serve right in the pan for a casual dinner. Notes ♪♫
Notes ♪♫ 
	







 
	

 Peel the garlic cloves and slowly warm them in the olive oil over lowest possible heat.  A
Peel the garlic cloves and slowly warm them in the olive oil over lowest possible heat.  A  Mince half of the rosemary and thyme and add to the butter along with the lemon zest.  Mash it together with a fork.
Mince half of the rosemary and thyme and add to the butter along with the lemon zest.  Mash it together with a fork.
 -Preheat the oven to 425º.  Remove the giblets packet from the chicken.
-Preheat the oven to 425º.  Remove the giblets packet from the chicken. -Rub the butter mixture all over the chicken, be sure to coat the wings and legs.  Season with salt and pepper.
-Rub the butter mixture all over the chicken, be sure to coat the wings and legs.  Season with salt and pepper. Roast uncovered for 1 to 1-1/2 hours, or until a
Roast uncovered for 1 to 1-1/2 hours, or until a  The skin should be nicely browned.  Be sure to let it rest for 10 minutes before carving.
The skin should be nicely browned.  Be sure to let it rest for 10 minutes before carving. Notes ♪♫
Notes ♪♫ 
	















 
	

 Rinse the chicken thoroughly and pat dry.  Place it in a
Rinse the chicken thoroughly and pat dry.  Place it in a  To make the marinade, toast the whole peppercorns, coriander seed and fennel seed in a hot skillet for 2 minutes, just until fragrant.  Grind in a
To make the marinade, toast the whole peppercorns, coriander seed and fennel seed in a hot skillet for 2 minutes, just until fragrant.  Grind in a  Now rub the chicken all over with the spice mixture.  Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.
Now rub the chicken all over with the spice mixture.  Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours. Wrap the brick in aluminum foil.
Wrap the brick in aluminum foil. Transfer to the oven and continue cooking for 45 minutes to an hour or more, depending on the size of the chicken.  Use a
Transfer to the oven and continue cooking for 45 minutes to an hour or more, depending on the size of the chicken.  Use a  Carefully remove the brick, turn the chicken, skin side up onto a serving platter and bring it to the table for a gorgeous presentation!
Carefully remove the brick, turn the chicken, skin side up onto a serving platter and bring it to the table for a gorgeous presentation! Look at the color!  Beautifully browned and the meat is so moist!  The marinade is so aromatic, and I know you are going to love the flavor.
Look at the color!  Beautifully browned and the meat is so moist!  The marinade is so aromatic, and I know you are going to love the flavor.