Olive Garden Sausage & Peppers Ziti Marinara

Submitted by PickyEater

"I found this one on the Olive Garden website."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 5mins
• Ingredients: 12
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 lbs Italian sausages (hot or sweet)
• 1 1⁄3 cups green bell peppers, seeded & cut into 1-inch x 1/4-inch strips
• 1 (28 ounce) can italian-style including liquid or (28 ounce) can plum tomatoes, including liquid
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can tomato puree
• 1 teaspoon garlic clove, chopped finely
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1⁄2 cup basil, fresh, chopped finely, firmly packed
• salt & pepper
• 1 lb penne pasta or 1 lb ziti pasta, cooked according to package directions
• fresh parsley, chopped
• parmesan cheese, grated

directions

1. Bake sausage links in oven for 20 minutes or until completely cooked. Cut sausages in half lengthwise; then cut into 1/2" slices. Result will be semi-circles of sausage. Set aside.
2. Saute pepper slices in olive oil until their crispness is lost, but not soft.
3. Chop tomatoes or use a food processor on "pulse"; do not puree tomatoes.
4. Combine chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, garlic, olive oil, and fresh basil in sauce pan. Bring to a simmer. Add sausage pieces and stir well.
5. Transfer cooked, drained pasta to a large serving platter. Top with sausage & pepper marinara mixture.
6. Garnish with parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.