Sicily is an island abundant in tomatoes. Sometimes it appears that Sicilians cook just about everything in tomato sauce. That bodes well for a tomato lover like me. I could live off fresh garden tomatoes. Why eat boring food like plain fried Italian sausages, when you can make it into a special dish worthy of a dinner party, just by adding tomato sauce and some herbs? Throw in some potatoes, a red bell pepper, and peas and you have a one-dish meal. Don’t forget to serve this tasty sausage dish with plenty of crusty Italian bread to soak up the sauce.
SAUSAGE, POTATOES, AND RED PEPPER IN TOMATO SAUCE
(Salsiccia, Patate, e Peperoni al Sugo)
Difficulty Rating: Easy
Makes 6 servings.
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 Italian sausage links
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2- inch strips
1/2 cup white or red wine
1 tablespoon minced fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh marjoram
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch thick wedges
1/3 cup fresh or frozen peas (optional)
Salt and pepper
Heat oil in a large deep skillet, over medium-high heat. Add sausages and brown on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Remove sausages and transfer onto a plate and set aside. Add onion and bell peppers to the skillet and cook until onion is soft, about 6 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes, wine, basil, and marjoram. Add the sausages and potatoes. Cover and cook for 20 minutes. Add peas and season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue cooking 30 to 40 minutes longer, until potatoes are tender.
