Hot Sausage Ragu

By lmeyer

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 pound hot Italian sausage (or 1/4 pound hot sausage and 1/4 pound sweet sausage
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow onions
• 3/4 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 (15-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, chopped, juices reserved
• 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/4 cup dry red wine
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• Pinch sugar

Preparation

Step 1

In a medium pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring, until brown and the fat is rendered, about 4 minutes. Add the onions, garlic, crushed red pepper salt, basil, oregano and black pepper, and bay leaf, and cook, stirring, until soft, 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juices, tomato sauce, tomato paste, wine, cream, and sugar, and stir well. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thick and the flavors are blended, about 30 minutes, adding water as necessary to keep from getting too thick.

Remove from the heat, and cover until needed.