Sausage Pasta Sauce

Sausage Pasta Sauce

I got this recipe from my mum and it has to be the best pasta sauce I've ever tasted.  The many people I've shared this recipe with can vouch for this! Better still there is a slow-cooked version and a quick cook version and both taste great (though I recommend the slow-cooked option if you have the time to let it cook out). If you're serving this to kids as well then simply hold off on adding chilli,  portion off the sauce in a separate saucepan 5 minutes from the end and add chilli to the main pan, stir in and allow to cook out in the sauce for a bit before adding the Parmesan and the cream.

Slow-Cooked Version
2tbsp Olive Oil
8 Pork Sausages removed from skins (Italian Spiced or flavour varieties; Pork Sausages with Caramelised Onion are particularly good and kids will love the slightly sweeter flavour- often come in packs of 6 & 6 is fine in this recipe) 
2 small Red Onions
2 Garlic Cloves (or 2tsp Lazy Garlic)
2 small Dried Chillies, crumbled (or 2tsp Lazy Chilli or Chilli Flakes)
2 Bay Leaves (dried fine but use extra as flavour is not as strong)
1/3 Btl Red Wine (ideally Chianti or Sangiovese; many supermarkets have cheaper own-brand versions)
2 400g tins Peeled Plum Tomatoes, drained
Sea Salt & Ground Pepper
120g Parmesan, grated 
150ml Dbl Cream
250g Penne Rigate Pasta
(recipe serves 4)
1. Heat the oil in large pan, fry the sausage meat, stirring and breaking up the pieces (I use a potato masher which works well).
2. After juice from the meat has evaporated and fat begins to run, add the onion, garlic, chilli (or hold off if you don't want included for kids), and bay leaves. Cook gently for almost 30 minutes until onion is browned.
3. Pour in the red wine, increase the heat and cook until the wine evaporates. Add the tomatoes, break up and lower the heat. Simmer for around 45-60 minutes until the sauce is thick.
4. At this stage portion some of the sauce off into a separate saucepan for kids & stir in chilli to main pan.
5. Season with salt & pepper, stir in the Parmesan until melted down into the sauce and add the cream (a little of Parmesan and cream into smaller kids pan too).
6. Cook the penne and stir through the sauce.