Creamy Sausage Pasta with Sage & Anchovy

A plate of tagliatelle pasta topped with ground meat, grated cheese, and chopped herbs, served on a white dish with blue trim.

Creamy Sausage Pasta with Sage & Anchovy

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp Olive oil
  • 3 Mild italian sausage links casing removed
  • 1/2 Yellow onion diced
  • 3 Garlic cloves minced
  • 8-10 Sage leaves minced
  • 8 oz Tagliatelle or pasta or choice
  • 3 Anchovy filets from a jar/tin packed in oil
  • 1/2 cup Heavy cream
  • 1/4-1/2 cup Parmigiano grated
  • 1/2 Lemon juiced

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil and cook the pasta to al dente. Drain and reserve at least 1/2 cup of pasta water.
  • Heat a large pan with 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add the 3 Italian sausage links and use a spatula to crumble them into small pieces. Allow them to get brown and crisp on all sides, adding the sage leaves about halfway through. Then, use a slotted spoon to remove the cooked sausage and set aside. Lower heat slightly.
  • To the still hot pan, add 3 anchovy filets. Allow them to sizzle in the pan briefly, then use a spatula to break them apart. As they cook, they will dissolve into a paste.
  • Once the anchovies are broken down, add the diced onion and stir until it begins to sweat, then add the minced garlic and stir. Cook these until they become soft and fragrant.
  • Add the heavy cream to the pan along with the sausage and sage mixture. Stir to combine over medium-low heat until well incorporated. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir to combine.
  • Grate ¼-½ cup parmesan and use the hot pasta water to melt it into the sauce. Stir until well incorporated, adding more pasta water as needed. Taste and season with kosher salt and black pepper. Squeeze in ½ of a lemon.
  • Serve hot and garnish with more parmesan and fresh sliced chives.

Tips & Variations:

  • Allow the sausage to properly brown by letting it sit, untouched, after breaking it into small pieces. Don’t be afraid to turn the heat up as needed.
  • Instead of tagliatelle, really any pasta shape will work fine. Pappardelle is a great option, as is rigatoni.
  • Anchovies can be omitted if necessary. Also, anchovy paste works great in place of actual filets. I promise it won’t taste like fish!

Have questions or made this recipe?

Leave a comment or rating below. I read every one!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this recipe:




Five glasses of pink watermelon drinks with ice and watermelon wedges, some with salted rims, placed on a wooden board with lime and watermelon slices nearby.
Pink text reads "the kitchen table" in a bold, serif font on a light background.

Want more recipes like this?

The Kitchen Table is my newsletter, where I share exclusive recipes, longer-form cooking notes, and what I’m making lately.