International, Italian, Mushrooms, Pasta, Potluck

Spaghetti with Mushroom and Sausage Tomato Sauce

Spaghetti pasta with a hearty and flavorful sauce featuring foraged wild or store-bought mushrooms and spicy Italian sausage.

I made the spaghetti shown in the picture from scratch in a Lodge Dutch camp oven over a campfire. Make the sauce at home and bring the dried pasta for your next camping trip.

EQUIPMENT: large pot or instant pot, saucepan, wooden spatula, tongs

Spaghetti with Mushroom and Sausage Tomato Sauce

Recipe by Anna Stockel Cuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

20

minutes
Cooking time

2

hours 

Spaghetti with a zesty sauce of mushrooms and spicy Italian sausage.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for finishing and serving

  • 2 tablespoons organic unsalted butter

  • 1 lb spicy bulk Italian sausage, or sausages with casings removed

  • 1 yellow onion, peeled and finely chopped

  • 1 green pepper, seeded and chopped

  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

  • 2 cups sliced fresh or re-hydrated boletes/porcini mushrooms*

  • sea salt

  • freshly ground black peppercorns

  • 2 cans (28-ounce) crushed canned San Marzano tomatoes (home canned if possible)

  • 1 can (8-ounce) tomato sauce

  • 1 can (6-ounce) tomato paste

  • 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar

  • bay leaf

  • 1 cup good red wine

  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

  • spaghetti
  • 4 oz dry spaghetti pasta

  • 1/2 cup sea salt

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

  • 1/4 cup packed chiffonade cut basil, plus more for serving

  • 2 oz freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, plus more for serving

  • crusty sourdough or French bread

Directions

  • Place large, heavy pot over medium high heat (or Instant Pot on sauté). Add olive oil and butter.
  • When butter has melted add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spatula until browned. Transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon.
  • Add onion and green pepper to the pot. Sauté until onions until translucent.
  • Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until all of the moisture from the mushrooms has evaporated.
  • Stir in minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté until garlic is aromatic.
  • Stir in all but one 28 oz can of the San Marzano tomatoes, sugar, oregano, thyme, and bay leaf.
  • Return the sausage to the pot. Stir in wine and any water from reconstituting dried mushrooms.
  • Lower heat and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Sauce should be reduced to about 3/4 to 1/2 of its original volume and have thickened. Simmer longer if needed until you are happy with the consistency of the sauce.
  • Stir reserved canned tomatoes, basil, and Worcestershire sauce in to the tomato sauce.
  • Simmer 30 minutes longer. Taste and correct seasoning.
  • Spaghetti pasta with sauce
  • Bring 4 quarts of salted water to a rolling boil in a large saucepan or another large pot of salted water. Do not add oil.
  • Add spaghetti to boiling water. Stir gently. Return to a boil.
  • Cook pasta al Dente per the package directions. For authentic “al dente” pasta it will probably be 9 minutes.
  • Use tongs to transfer cooked pasta to sauce.
  • Add 4 tablespoons pasta water to sauce.
  • Turn heat to high and cook, stirring constantly, to desired consistency. Add more pasta water if needed.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Stir in oregano, thyme, basil, and cheese.
  • Transfer to a warm family style serving bowl or individual plates.
  • Serve immediately with any additional garnishes, such as grated cheese, chopped fresh basil, freshly ground black pepper, and extra-virgin olive oil. Small plates of warm extra virgin olive oil lightly seasoned with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and crusty sourdough or French bread are a great accompaniment to the meal.

Notes

  • *dehydrated porcini mushrooms can you usually be purchased at your local grocery store. Crimini mushrooms are a great substitute.

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