Tortellini with Sausage and Mushrooms

If you are looking for some comfort food on this wickedly cold January evening, look no farther.

Tortellini with Sausage and Mushrooms is a lovely combination of cheese tortellini and a rich sausage and mushroom tomato sauce.

Serve it with a nice green salad. Leftovers (if there are any), are wonderful the next day.

Serves

Ingredients

.5 kg 1 - 1 1/4 lb uncooked sausage (garlic, hot or mild Italian)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Large onion (medium chop)
2 Cloves garlic (chopped)
10 - 12 Medium sized cremini mushrooms (sliced about 1/4 inch thick, may substitute with white mushrooms)
1 Tsp dried basil
1 Tsp dried parsley
1/4 Tsp freshly ground pepper
2 14 oz (398 ml) tin unsalted diced tomatoes
1 cup white wine
700 Gm (about 3 cups) uncooked fresh cheese tortellini


Cut the sausages into bite sized pieces using scissors (easier than using a knife).

Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Add the cut sausage and brown on all sides, cooking and stirring for about 5 minutes. Add the chopped onion and garlic and continue to stir fry until the onion is soft. Add the freshly grated pepper, dried basil and parsley to the mixture.

Transfer the mixture to a large pot and add the diced tomatoes and white wine. Wipe the mushrooms with a clean damp paper towel (do not wash) and then slice the mushrooms. Add an extra splash of olive oil to the pan and lightly fry the mushrooms in the same frying pan that you used for the sausage and onion/garlic mixture, until all the water has evaporated. Add the mushrooms to the pot. Simmer for about 20 minutes covered, stirring occasionally. Remove the cover and add the remaining tbsp of olive oil. Cook for 5 - 10 more minutes until the sauce has thickened. Taste and adjust for seasoning.

Meanwhile bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fresh pasta and cook according to the package directions (usually 6 - 8 minutes for fresh tortellini); drain the pasta.

To serve, place some tortellini in the bottom of the serving dish and ladle on some of the tomato mixture. Top with freshly grated Parmesan.