Pasta with Zucchini and Sausages

Try this deliciously flavourful pasta dish when you fancy something a little out of the ordinary. It is simple and very quick to prepare. Italian sausages and zucchini just seem to go together so well.

We would suggest you pair this dish with an Arneis wine from either Cascina Ca’Rossa (www.cascinacarossa.com) or Lorenzo Negro (www.lorenzonegro.com)- the salinity and light lemony flavour will complement this slightly richer pasta dish very well. Alternatively, try the Otten:3 Capriano del Colle DOC from Cantina San Michele (www.sanmichelevini.it) in Capriano del Colle, Brescia.

Ingredients:

Serves 4

320 g pasta (preferably a short pasta such as rigatoni)

2 zucchini, thinly sliced

3 Italian sausages

200ml fresh cream

1 medium onion

Olive oil

Salt

Pepper

Chopped walnuts (optional)

Method:

• Prepare the pasta according to the instructions on the packet.

• While the pasta is cooking, pour a little olive oil into a large frying pan. Finely chop the onions and soften over a medium heat. Remove the sausage meat from their casings and crumble into the frying onions. Cook until the meat has browned.

• Add the zucchini pieces to the sausage and onion and mix and cook for about 5 to 10 minutes until cooked through. Add the cream to the sausage mix and heat until it has thickened.

• Adjust the seasoning and and then add your well-drained pasta. Grate a little cheese over the pasta and serve.

Traditionally the dish would have been served with chopped walnuts sprinkled over the top which does add to the texture but this is optional.