Food Obsessions

I get a craving for pasta with Italian sausage and peppers and/or fennel sauce at least once a week. Not proud of it, but it's an obsession.

— superkaratemonkey (@LedZepBoxedSet) February 15, 2017

Lately I’ve been obsessed with making pasta with Italian sausage and peppers. I’ve been obsessed with perfecting the recipe, and I think I have, because I can’t stop eating the stuff. Been thinking about my food obsessions over the years and I recall going through a sushi phase. (I did not make it, alas.) I also recall making a thousand variations of a Thai-inspired coconut milk-based soup. I recall frying up salmon and serving it on a bed of herb salad…a lot. I made more than my fair share of a fairly authentic (I think) chicken curry using a recipe I got from an actual (actual! Scotland exists!) Scotsman.

Here’s my recipe for Italian Sausage and Peppers Sauce:

• 1 lb. ground hot Italian sausage
• olive oil
• 1 large or 2 small onions, cut into thin strips
• 2 bell peppers, cut into thin strips
• 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
• pinch red pepper flakes
• generous splash red wine
• generous dash of grated Parmesan cheese
• a pinch of sugar
• 2 tsp. red wine or balsamic vinegar
• 28 oz. crushed tomatoes + plus 14 oz. diced or crushed tomatoes
• Italian herb blend
• Fresh basil (optional)

1. In a big pot, saute the red pepper flakes and onion in the oil until the onions turn golden.
2. Add the sausage and saute until sausage is browned. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds or so, so as not to brown it.
3. Deglaze the pan with the wine and vinegar, then stir in the bell peppers, plenty of salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and the remaining ingredients.
4. Let simmer until the peppers are quite tender and the flavors have had a chance to meld.
5. If desired, add some chopped, fresh basil to the sauce after removing from the heat. Stir into hot, cooked pasta.

What is your current food obsession?