Italian Pink Sauce with Sausage

Table of Contents

An Easy Weeknight Pleasure: Italian Pink Sauce with Sausage

The Joy of Creamy Tomato Sauce

Italian pink sauce has taken the pasta world by storm with its blend of crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, garlic, and red pepper flakes for a rich yet bright tomato sauce. At its heart is the simple comfort of pasta tossed in a creamy, hearty sauce – the perfect easy and satisfying meal.

Key Ingredients for Luxury Italian Pink Sauce

The foundation of this sauce comes from some essential pantry staples:

28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 lb sweet Italian sausage, casings removed

You can also substitute coconut cream for the dairy if needed. The sausage adds savory depth while the cream takes the edge off the tomatoes for velvety silkiness.

Browning the Sausage

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the loose sausage meat until browned and cooked through, about 7-10 minutes. Switch to a paper towel-coated plate and set apart.

Building Flavor

Return the skillet to medium warmness with a drizzle of olive oil. Sauté shallots for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.

The Tomato Base

Pour in the crushed tomatoes and their juices. Add a splash of tomato paste for concentrated flavor. Allow the sauce simmer for 15-20 minutes to thicken barely.

Creaminess Perfected

Whisk in the heavy cream or half-and-half. Return the browned sausage to the sauce and warm thru. dispose of from warmth and season with salt and pepper to flavor.

Pasta Pleasure

Toss with your favorite pasta shape like rigatoni or penne. The starchy pasta water helps the sauce coat the noodles beautifully. Top with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Nutrition

Per 1 cup serving:

Calories: 350
Fat: 18g
Protein: 16g
Carbs: 28g

Pairings Galore

This comforting sauce begs to be eaten alongside:

Garlic bread
Mixed green salad with red wine vinaigrette
Chicken cutlets or shrimp
Eggplant parmesan sandwich the next day

You can also adapt it in flavorful ways:

Swap Italian sausage for ground pork
Stir in shredded basil or diced olives
Make it vegetarian by omitting the meat
Amp up the heat with red pepper flakes

FAQs about Italian Pink Sauce

Why is Italian sausage pink?

It is common for Italian Sausage to be pink after cooking due to how the meat was seasoned and cured. To ensure that the sausage is safe to consume, we recommend the usage of a meat thermometer to verify that meat has been cooked to an internal temperature of 165° F.
If it has, then the sausage is secure to devour.

What is pink sauce actually called?

Pink sauce is also known as rosatella sauce or marinara alfredo.It is a flavorful sauce that carries tomato passata, heavy cream, white wine, and seasonings. And it’s crimson due to the beautiful red coloration of the tomato passata!

Does pink sauce taste like?

Despite watching gross TikToks of people trying Pink Sauce, and my friends joking about starting a GoFundMe to pay medical bills if I get sick, I remained optimistic.

I initially tried it with some basic chicken nuggets. The taste itself was somewhere between ranch dressing and a fruit-flavored gummy multivitamin.

Should I cook sausage before putting in sauce?

Ground meatballs, Italian sausage, pork, or ox tail, can all be put directly into the sauce raw as long as you are cooking the sauce until the meat is cooked.

Is sausage ok to eat pink?

For commercially made sausages, a slight pink hue can be normal, even when the sausage is fully cooked. This may be due to the preservatives used, which includes sodium nitrite, which can purpose the beef to retain a red color.
The key indicator of doneness need to constantly be the internal temperature, not the color.

Make-Ahead Ease

The sauce actually improves when made a day ahead! certainly shop in an hermetic container within the fridge. To reheat, add a splash of pasta water or chicken broth to loosen it up. Also freeze individual portions for fast weeknight meals.

In the comments below, please share your favorite pastas to pair this versatile sauce with and any other tips you have for making it! Buon appetito!