Baked Penne With Sausage

Baked Penne with Sausage - Simple and wonderfully comforting - hot, gooey and cheesy.
Servings: 4 yield(s)
Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 Medium red onion - halved then thinly sliced
  • 1 clove Garlic - thinly sliced
  • 400 ml Passata OR tomato purée
  • 1 cup Water
  • 0.5 tsp dried Basil OR handful of fresh leaves - chopped
  • 300 g Penne
  • 250 g Vegetarian Italian sausages
  • 250 g fresh Mozzarella - thinly sliced
  • 50 g Pecorino or Parmesan cheese - grated
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced).
  2. Sauté the onions, in the oil in a saucepan, over a low heat, until soft – about 10 minutes.
  3. Add the sliced garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes.
  4. Add the passata and water, and season, to taste with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a steady simmer. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes until the sauce has reduced a little. Add the basil and remove from the heat.
  5. Meanwhile, cook the penne according to packet directions until just al dente.
  6. While the pasta is cooking, fry the sausages until about half cooked. Then set aside. When cool enough to handle, slice into 5mm slices.
  7. In a 20cm square baking tray, spread 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the tomato sauce on the base. Layer half the penne on top and follow with half the sliced sausage, half the mozzarella and half the pecorino or parmesan
  8. Repeat the layering process, finish with a drizzle of olive oil.
  9. Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, until the top is golden.
  10. Garnish with extra basil leaves and a little of the grated cheese, and serve with fresh bread rolls and a green salad.