For a simple and delicious dinner, make a batch of shells with peppers, onion, fennel, and chicken sausage. Caramelized vegetables are a perfect match with the sweet apple chicken sausage.
The dish involves some chopping, but otherwise it is very straightforward and the results are scrumptious.
The trick is to cook the vegetables very well, so that they almost melt into the cooking liquid when you add it. The resulting sauce coats and sticks to the pasta.
This recipe makes four generous servings.
Tips
- I recommend a sweet sausage, such as one with apple, which pairs nicely with the salty umami of the caramelized vegetables. I used Trader Joe’s Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage.
- You can keep this vegetarian by leaving out the sausage. The vegetables on their own make a great pasta topping.
Ingredients
You need the following ingredients to make this dish.
- 1 pound box pasta shells
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, sliced and cut into large pieces
- 2 bell peppers, sliced and cut into large pieces
- 1 large fennel, top removed, sliced and cut into large pieces
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
- 1 12-ounce package chicken sausages, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices
- A couple sprinkles of crushed red pepper
- Kosher salt to taste
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Directions
Heat water in a large pan to cook the pasta. When boiling, add salt and add the pasta. Cook until it is al dente. Before draining the pasta, scoop out a cup of the cooking liquid.
While the pasta is cooking, add the oil to a large skillet over medium high heat. When the oil is hot, add the onions. Cook the onions for a few minutes and add the peppers and fennel. Cook until the vegetables start to turn golden brown. Add the chicken sausage and turn the heat to high for a few minutes, stirring regularly. You want the sausages to brown a little. Lower the heat to medium and add the garlic. Cook for a 2 or 3 minutes. Add a little crushed red pepper and salt. Keep cooking on low heat while you finish up the pasta.
When the pasta is drained, add it to the skillet and stir everything together. Add about 1/2 of the cooking liquid and turn the heat up a bit. Stir until blended. Taste and adjust the salt and red pepper as needed. Add a little more cooking liquid if the dish needs it.
Transfer the pasta to a serving bowl and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if you are using it. Enjoy!
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