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Our family can't get enough of my Irresistible Creamy Ditalini Sausage Pasta. This tiny pasta mixed with Italian sausage and that velvety tomato cream sauce works pure kitchen magic in just half an hour. My hubby came up with the nickname after saying he'd tie the knot with me again just for this dish! It's now what we whip up whenever we want something warm and tasty.
Why This Pasta Stands Out
What makes it amazing is how that smooth sauce wraps around each bit of pasta. The mild sausage brings such great taste while tomato paste and parmesan create this unbelievable richness. I'll often throw in some fresh spinach or sweet peas. The kids gobble up veggies without complaint when they're hidden in all that creamy delight.
What You'll Need
- Tiny pasta: Ditalini shapes grab onto that wonderful sauce.
- Quality oil: Avocado oil works great for its neutral flavor and heat stability.
- Tasty sausage: Mild tastes best but spice fans can amp it up.
- Flavor builders: Sweet onions and loads of fresh garlic.
- Concentrated tomato: Browning the paste really transforms the flavor.
- Basic spices: Just kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.
- Savory liquid: Low sodium chicken broth lets you adjust saltiness.
- Dairy richness: Heavy cream makes everything silky smooth.
- Genuine cheese: Fresh-grated parmesan melts perfectly.
- Spicy kick: Red pepper flakes for those wanting extra zing.
Creating Your Dish
- Begin With Noodles
- Get that water bubbling with plenty of salt first thing. Those tiny ditalini finish fast, cook them just until they've got that slight resistance. A tiny bit of oil helps them stay separate while the sauce comes together.
- Cook The Meat
- That crackling noise as sausage hits the hot skillet might be what I look forward to most. Let it brown up nicely all around.
- Layer The Tastes
- Toss in those onions and garlic, cooking until my whole house smells incredible.
- The Game-Changer
- Now comes the trick - letting that tomato paste brown up. Those few extra minutes completely change your final dish.
- Adding Smoothness
- Pour in the chicken broth and let it cook down before adding that luxurious cream.
- Finishing Touches
- Mix in fresh parmesan until it vanishes into the sauce, then dump in those perfect little pasta shapes. Sometimes I toss in red pepper flakes when I want some heat.
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Smart Cooking Tricks
Don't cook your pasta all the way through - it'll soften more in the sauce. Trust me, browning that tomato paste is worth every second. If things look too thick, just add a splash more broth. I figured these tricks out after many attempts - now each batch turns out amazing.
Storing Leftovers
This pasta keeps really well in the fridge for a few days. When heating it up, add a bit of broth to bring back that smooth sauce. I often make extra just for next-day meals - my husband swears it tastes even better after sitting overnight.
Customize It
Feel free to switch things up with this meal. I sometimes use whatever pasta shapes are in my cabinet and they all work great. Recently I mixed in some green peas and the kids ate them without complaining. My sister prefers using hot sausage in hers. You can really play around with this dish.
Why I Love This Oil
I switched to avocado oil for this dish ages ago and won't go back. It stands up to heat so well without adding any strong taste. In a pinch, olive oil does the job but that neutral flavor of avocado oil really lets everything else shine through.
Questions You Might Ask
People often wonder if they can swap pasta shapes - absolutely, any short pasta works great! You can use half and half instead of heavy cream, but your sauce won't be quite as decadent. Don't rush past browning the tomato paste - it really bumps up the flavor. These small touches turn an everyday pasta into something you'll crave.
Perfect Pairings
I love watching family enjoy this pasta around our table. We always have some crusty garlic bread nearby to scoop up extra sauce. A crisp green salad cuts through all that richness perfectly. On weekends we might open some white wine to make it special. Even my fussiest guests always want more.
Tools You'll Need
No fancy gadgets needed for this favorite meal. My regular pasta pot, the big frying pan from our wedding gifts, and a sturdy strainer do just fine. I can't live without my silicone spatula for stirring without scratching. That old whisk from my grandma's kitchen makes the creamiest sauce. Simple stuff creating something wonderful.
Soul-Warming Goodness
This dish brings so much happiness to our busy evenings. The way those flavors blend together and how the sauce coats each bit of pasta just works so beautifully. My little girl calls it her "happy dinner" and seeing everyone at the table smiling between bites makes all the cooking totally worth it.
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Common Questions
- → Why cook pasta al dente?
Pasta cooked al dente stays firmer in the sauce and gives you a better bite. It'll soften up a bit more when you mix it with the hot sauce anyway.
- → Why caramelize the tomato paste?
Simmering your tomato paste for a couple minutes brings out sweeter flavors and gets rid of that tinny raw taste, making your sauce much tastier.
- → How can I adjust the sauce thickness?
If your sauce gets too thick, just splash in some more chicken broth until it's runny enough for your liking.
- → Can I use different pasta?
Though ditalini works best here, you can swap in any small pasta shapes that'll grab onto the sauce nicely.
- → Can I make this spicier?
You bet! Toss in extra red pepper flakes or grab hot Italian sausage instead of mild to crank up the heat.
Final Thoughts
This simple comfort meal pairs tender ditalini with savory Italian sausage covered in a smooth parmesan cream sauce, done in just 35 minutes. Think of it as fancy hamburger helper but completely homemade.