Eugene Sausage Pasta


Serves 8

INGREDIENTS

Olive oil
6-8 cloves garlic, chopped fine
1 tablespoon dried fennel seeds
1-2 teaspoons dried red chili flakes
1 pound spicy Italian sausage
1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped fine (flat leaf)
2 teaspoons salt
1 small can tomato sauce, 6 ounces
1 cup black olives, pitted and sliced
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 package (box) linguini, cooked, 16 ounces
Freshly grated parmesan
Black pepper


PREPARATION

In sauté pan, place olive oil, garlic,  place on medium heat. Add fennel seeds and chili flakes and cook about 30 -45 seconds. (This process enhances the flavor of the oil and adds to the flavor of the cooked sausage and sauce.) Add the sausage, making sure to take it out of the casing and break it up in small pieces. Continue to cook until brown, making sure to break apart and larger piece of meat. Once the sausage is browned and crumbly, add the parsley and the salt, stirring and cooking a few more minutes. Add the black olives, mix well.  Toss in tomato sauce, mix together well and continue to cook until all liquid is absorbed. The tomato  sauce will become tomato paste like and should be  sticking tightly to the meat.  Once the sauce is totally absorbed into the meat about 5 minutes approximately of stirring while keeping the burner on medium heat, reduce the temp to low and pour in the heavy cream. Mix together until all the cream is mixed in, turn the burner off.   Toss  the sauce together with cooked linguini. Season with salt to taste.

Freshly grated parmesan cheese and black pepper are a MUST on top!