Description
A comforting and flavorful Italian-inspired pasta dish featuring spicy Italian sausage, creamy mascarpone, and tender tortellini in a rich red sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal that combines savory, spicy, and creamy elements.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Sauce
- 12 ounces spicy Italian sausage, crumbled
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 shallot, sliced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 cups of your favorite red sauce
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup mascarpone cheese
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Pasta
- 1 9-ounce package refrigerated tortellini
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese to taste
Instructions
- Brown the Sausage: Remove the sausage meat from the casings and crumble it into a skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is evenly browned. Drain most of the fat, leaving the browned sausage in the pan.
- Sauté Aromatics and Build Sauce: To the same pan with the sausage, add the minced garlic, sliced shallot, and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 60 seconds until fragrant. Then pour in the red sauce, heavy cream, and mascarpone cheese. Stir and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until the sauce is well combined and saucy.
- Cook the Tortellini: Prepare the refrigerated tortellini according to the package instructions, usually boiling for several minutes until tender. Reserve ¼ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained tortellini and reserved pasta water to the sauce in the skillet. Stir to coat the pasta thoroughly, then season with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Plate the sauced tortellini and generously sprinkle freshly grated parmesan cheese over the top before serving.
Notes
- Using spicy Italian sausage adds a nice kick; consider mild sausage if you prefer less heat.
- Reserve pasta water helps to loosen and bind the sauce to the pasta for a creamier texture.
- Mascarpone cheese can be substituted with cream cheese for a similar creamy effect, but mascarpone is preferred for authenticity.
- Fresh parmesan elevates the flavor—grate it just before serving for best results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (about 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
