Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, EVOO
1 carrot, peeled and grated or finely chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
1 rib celery with leafy tops, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped or thinly sliced
Salt and pepper
½ pound sweet sausage with fennel
½ pound hot sausage
½ pound ground pork
2 tablespoons sage, finely chopped
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup red wine
1 cup chicken stock
One 14-ounce can Italian crushed tomatoes, or 2 cups passata
1 pound Gigli Toscani, campanelle or other short-cut pasta
Grated pecorino cheese, and/or sheep’s milk ricotta
Directions
Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat with olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, add carrot, onion, celery, garlic, salt and pepper. Sweat the vegetables to soften 5-7 minutes. Split the sausages from their casings and remove the meat. Add the sausage and pork to the pot and break up with a wooden spoon or fork to lightly brown and crumble. Add the sage and tomato paste, stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add wine and let it absorb, add stock and tomatoes and lower heat to simmer.
Bring a large pot of water to boil for pasta.
Salt water and cook the pasta 1 minute less than package directions. Reserve about ¾ cup starchy cooking water and drain pasta. Toss pasta with sauce and cooking water to combine, add grated cheese or ricotta if you prefer a very creamy presentation.
