An easy sausage macaroni perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Course Pasta
Prep Time 5 minutesminutes
Cook Time 15 minutesminutes
Total Time 20 minutesminutes
Author Ashika | Gardening Foodie
Ingredients
1x 400g canned chopped tomatoes
1x 400g pasta sauceI used the one with basil and olives in the mix
1x clove crushed garlic clove
½finely chopped onion
1x medium red or green bell pepper
½teaspoonchilli powderoptional
¼teaspoonmixed dried herbs
about 8 basil leaves
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4sausages cooked and slicedI used vegetarian sausage, use any type you prefer
½cupgrated cheese
500gmacaroni boiled and drained
TO MAKE THE WHITE SAUCEOPTIONAL If you find the pasta sauce too tangy, you could stir in a bit of bechamel / white sauce into it. This adds a bit of creaminess and cuts out the tanginess of the canned tomato.
250mlmilk
2Tablespoonbutter or margarine
2Tablespoonall purpose / cake flour
¼cupgrated cheese
¼teaspoonground nutmegoptional
salt and pepper to taste
¼teaspoondried mixed herbs or finely chopped fresh basil leaves
Instructions
Boil macaroni according to package instructions.
As soon as the pasta has finished cooking, strain out the water but do not rinse.
While the macaroni is cooking ,Fry the onions and peppers on medium heat until softened. Add in crushed garlic and mixed herbs and cook for about 1 minute
Empty in the can of chopped tomatoes, bottled pasta sauce and add in the chilli powder if using.
Cook until slightly reduced, about 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sometimes bottled pasta sauce has added salt , so taste first and adjust salt and pepper to your preference.
Add in the cooked and sliced sausages.
Stir in the strained macaroni, coating it well into the sauce. Garnish with grated cheese and basil leaves.
TO MAKE THE WHITE SAUCE IF USING IN MACARONI
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter or margarine. Add in mixed herbs or basil leaves and nutmeg if using.
Add flour and stir with a whisk until the butter and flour are well combined.
Pour in milk, stirring constantly as it thickens.Add more milk depending on desired consistency. Measure out salt and pepper to taste.
Stir in grated cheese until melted. Combine into the sausage macaroni if prefered.
Serve immediately. ( SEE NOTE 1)
Notes
NOTE 1 Pasta dishes are best served immediately after cooking otherwise it tends to dry up if served too long after cooking.