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Sausage, Mushroom, and Basil Marinara over Gemelli
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Sausage, Mushroom, and Basil Marinara over Gemelli

Balanced, flavorful, and enjoyable—this recipe has it all.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 45 mins
Total Time
1 hr 55 mins
Servings: 8
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 1 lb chicken sausage casing free
  • 1 lb basil casing free
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 5 oz button mushrooms quartered
  • ½ onion diced, sweet yellow
  • crushed red pepper flakes more if you want spicy, dash
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds crushed
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 fire-roasted crushed tomatoes 28 oz can
  • 1 tomato sauce 15 oz can
  • 1 tsp sugar more if desired
  • sea salt to taste, freshly cracked black pepper
  • black pepper to taste, freshly cracked black pepper
  • ¼ cup basil chopped, fresh
  • Parmesan Cheese shredded

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Form the chicken and basil sausage into small little balls.
  2. Coat a small Dutch oven with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add the little sausage balls and let them get golden brown on all sides but not cooked through, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from the Dutch oven and set aside; finish cooking the meatballs in batches.
  3. Add the olive oil to the Dutch oven when you remove the last of the sausage balls. Once hot, add the mushrooms and let them sit for 3-4 minutes before tossing. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes, or until softened. Add the crushed red pepper flakes, crushed fennel seeds, and minced garlic then cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
  4. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and sugar. Mix until well combined; add the sausage balls and their juices; gently combine. Taste & season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Cover with a lid and reduce heat to simmer. Let the sauce simmer for 1 hour to 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. Taste & re-season if needed; add the chopped basil and combine. Cook the pasta in salted water per instructions. Drain.
  6. Ladle the pasta into a serving bowl then spoon sauce over the top followed by a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately. Enjoy.