Let’s make four-cheese sausage rigatoni

Posted on by laurenarva

Upon doing a Google search to find some lovely Christmas-inspired recipes to share with all of you, I have to say I was a bit disappointed. So many of the recipes marketed as being ‘Christmasy’ are anything but, including the one I will share with you today.

I have no clue what constitutes Four Cheese Sausage Rigatoni as a Christmas dish, but because it sounds delicious, and arguably appeals to the masses, I thought it would be appropriate to share it with all of you.

This recipe comes from tasteofhome.com.

“Ingredients

  • 1 package (16 ounces) rigatoni pasta
  • 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
  • 1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes in puree
  • 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 carton (15 ounces) whole-milk ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1 log (4 ounces) fresh goat cheese, softened
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed
  • Torn fresh basil, optional

“Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Cook pasta according to package directions.
  2. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook sausage, red pepper and onion over medium heat until sausage is no longer pink, 6-8 minutes, breaking up sausage into crumbles. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute longer; drain.
  3. Stir in cream; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning and pepper flakes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, uncovered, until sauce thickens slightly, 5-8 minutes. Drain pasta; stir into meat sauce.
  4. Spread 3 cups pasta mixture into each of 2 greased 11×7-in. baking dishes. In a small bowl, combine ricotta, 1/2 cup Parmesan, goat cheese, egg, salt and pepper; gently spread over pasta in each baking dish. Top with remaining pasta mixture.
  5. Bake, covered, 25 minutes. Sprinkle with mozzarella and remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, until cheeses are melted, about 5 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with basil,” the recipe states.

Again, I don’t really see how this dish embodies Christmas, but because it does embody tastiness, I figured I would share it regardless. Enjoy!

Photo by Stefan Schauberger on Unsplash

Leave a comment