Make It Monday: Angel Hair Pasta with Italian Sausage

It's Make-It-Monday bring you this recipe from McCormick that includes angel pasta, Italian sausage, Romano cheese and the aroma and taste delight of basil.

Basil is an herb native to India, China, Southeast Asia, and New Guinea. It was originally domesticated in India, having been cultivated there for more than 5,000 years.

Basil is used fresh in cooked recipes. It's added at the last moment, as cooking quickly destroys the flavor.

The fresh herb can be kept for a short time in plastic bags in the refrigerator, or for a longer period in the freezer, after being blanched quickly in boiling water. The dried herb also loses most of its flavor, and what little flavor remains tastes very different, with a weak coumarin flavor, like hay.

Basil is one of the main ingredients in pesto, green Italian oil-and-herb sauce. Its other main ingredients are olive oil, garlic, and pine nuts.

For an authentic Italian pasta dish, make this highly flavorful recipe for your table tonight.

Angel Hair Pasta with Italian Sausage and Herbs Recipe
Serves 12

1 pound angel hair pasta
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casing removed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped red onion
8 ounces mushrooms, quartered
1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet™ Basil, Mediterranean
1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet™ Garlic Salt
1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet™ Italian Seasoning
1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet™ Parsley, Flat Leaf
1/2 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet™ Fennel Seed
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese

Cook pasta as directed on package. Drain well. Meanwhile, break up sausage in large skillet. Cook on medium-high heat 5 to 6 minutes. Remove sausage; drain fat. Rinse skillet and wipe clean.

Heat oil in same skillet on medium heat. Add onions, mushrooms and seasonings; cook and stir 5 minutes. Add cooked sausage; cook and stir 5 minutes longer.

Place pasta in large serving bowl. Add sausage mixture and cheese; toss to coat well. Serve with additional cheese, as desired.

Nutritional Information (amount per serving)
Calories 281; Carbohydrates 31g; Cholesterol 26mg; Fiber 2g; Fat 813; Sodium 374mg; Sugars 0g; Protein 10g

* Sources: McCormick

McCormick & Company's name and the names of top-selling global brands are devoted to making food better through research on the health benefits of herbs and spices, as well as searching for new ways to give people healthy eating choices. McCormick encompass blends of flavor solutions that translate to more than 110 countries around the world. With leading flavor brands, trend-trackers, research chefs, flavor technologists and sensory scientists around the globe, McCormick is the source home cooks and professional chefs alike turn to for flavor and culinary inspiration.

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