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Rigatoni with Hot Italian Sausage

The sauce can be prepared two days ahead and refrigerated. Just re-heat and toss with the rigatoni before serving.
Cook Time1 hour
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 6 people

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 large onion (finely chopped)
  • 1 1/4 pounds hot Italian sausage--casing removed
  • 1 pound sliced fresh button mushrooms (may substitute wild mushrooms)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary (crumbled)
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup beef stock or canned unsalted broth
  • 1 1/4 pounds rigatoni pasta
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about 4.5 ounces)
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • Chopped Italian parsley
  • Fresh rosemary sprigs
  • Additional freshly grated Parmesan cheese (there can never be too much)

Instructions

  • Rinse porcini mushrooms. Place in small bowl. Pour 1 cup hot water over and let soak until softened, about 20 minutes.
  • Drain porcini, reserving soaking liquid. Chop porcini, discarding any hard stems. Set aside.
  • Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until beginning to soften, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add sausage, increase heat to high and cook just until no longer pink, breaking up with fork, about 6 minutes. Add fresh mushrooms and dried rosemary and stir until mushrooms begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add porcini, wine and bay leaf and boil until almost all liquid evaporates, about 4 minutes. Add stock and porcini soaking liquid, discarding any sand at bottom of liquid. Simmer until sauce is syrupy, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
  • Add pasta to large pot of boiling salted water, stirring to prevent sticking. Cook until just tender but still firm to bite (al dente). Drain. Return pasta to hot pot.
  • Meanwhile, add half and half to sauce and boil until thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. Add sauce and 1 1/2 cups Parmesan to pasta and stir over low heat until coated. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to heated platter. Sprinkle with parsley. Garnish with rosemary sprigs. Serve, passing additional Parmesan separately.

Notes

(Sauce can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cool, then cover and refrigerate.)