Description
Rustic Italian pasta alla norcina celebrates Umbrian culinary magic with creamy sausage and pecorino cheese. Rich flavors and simple ingredients combine into a hearty meal you’ll savor with pure Mediterranean comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb (454 grams) Italian sausage (mild, casings removed)
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (rigatoni, penne, or short pasta of choice)
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) dry white wine
- ½ cup (50 grams) grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Salt, to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with water, generously season with salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Submerge pasta and cook until tender yet firm, preserving one cup of starchy liquid before draining.
- Warm olive oil in a generously sized skillet over moderate heat. Disintegrate sausage into the pan, allowing it to caramelize and fully cook, releasing rich, meaty flavors.
- Introduce finely chopped onions to the sausage-infused landscape, translating them from raw to softened and translucent. Immediately follow with minced garlic, letting its aromatic essence permeate the pan.
- Cascade white wine into the skillet, using a wooden spatula to liberate the deeply browned culinary remnants clinging to the pan’s surface. Allow the liquid to gently reduce and concentrate its essence.
- Lower the flame and introduce heavy cream, freshly grated nutmeg, and cracked black pepper. Coax the mixture into a gentle simmer, encouraging the sauce to thicken and develop a luxurious consistency.
- Transfer the perfectly cooked pasta into the creamy sausage sauce, ensuring each strand is lavishly coated. Sprinkle Pecorino cheese throughout, creating a harmonious blend. If the sauce appears too dense, incorporate reserved pasta water to achieve a silky, flowing texture. Taste and calibrate seasoning to personal preference.
Notes
- Choose high-quality Italian sausage for authentic flavor bursting with rich, meaty goodness.
- Remove sausage casings and crumble meat to ensure even cooking and perfect sauce integration.
- Use fresh nutmeg if possible, grating it directly into the sauce for an intense, aromatic punch.
- Reserve pasta water strategically to control sauce consistency and enhance overall creaminess.
- Opt for Pecorino Romano cheese to maintain traditional regional taste profile.
- Slightly undercook pasta during initial boiling since it continues cooking when mixed with sauce.
- Experiment with different pasta shapes like rigatoni or penne for varied texture experiences.
- Consider lighter alternatives like turkey sausage or plant-based sausage for health-conscious variations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg