Creamy, Cheesy Italian Sausage and Basil Penne

 

Ingredients:

For the Sauce:

3 tbsp. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

1 small onion, chopped fine

3 cloves garlic, chopped fine or put through the garlic press

1 lb. sweet Italian sausage 

1 tsp. Italian seasoning (or a mix of dried basil, thyme, marjoram, and oregano) 

1 bay leaf

1 C. chicken broth

1 1/2 C heavy cream

3/4 C freshly grated Parmesan cheese

handful of fresh basil, sliced thin

salt and pepper to taste 

For the Penne: 

1 lb. penne pasta 

1 tbsp. butter

Directions: 

For the penne : 

1) Bring a large pan of salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook until al dente. Drain and toss with butter. 

For the Sauce: 

1) Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat and saute the onion and garlic until it is soft an translucent. 

2) Remove the sausage from casings and add to the pan, Cook until browned. 

3) Add Italian seasoning , bay leaf, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Let simmer on low for 15 minutes. 

4) Off the heat, stir in parmesan cheese, fresh basil, and salt and pepper to taste. 

5) Toss with hot buttered penne and serve immediately. 

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

Total: 30 minutes

Serves: 6 

* If your sausage doesn't contain fennel seed, toast 1/2 tsp fennel seeds in a pan until they become aromatic, then pound in a mortar and pestle and add to sausage.