Old-School Onion, Pepper & Sausage

Ingredients

For the Sausage

• 2 lb (900 g) Italian sausage
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

For the Sausage

• Mild Italian sausage
• Hot Italian sausage
• Sweet Italian sausage
• Chicken sausage
• Turkey sausage

For the Onions and Peppers

• 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 2 large red bell peppers, sliced
• 2 large green bell peppers, sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

For the Sauce

• 1 can (14–15 oz / 400 g) diced tomatoes
• ½ cup chicken broth or beef broth
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, optional
• 1 teaspoon sugar, optional
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, optional

For Finishing

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, optional
• Grated Parmesan, optional
• Freshly cracked black pepper
• Extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Vegetables

1. Wash the peppers thoroughly. Chicken cooking tips
2. Remove the seeds and membranes, then slice the peppers into long strips.
3. Peel the onions and cut them into thin slices.
4. Mince the garlic.
5. Try to keep the vegetables relatively similar in size so they cook evenly.
6. If using sausage links, you can leave them whole or remove the casings.
7. For a traditional skillet presentation, cut the sausage into approximately 1-inch pieces. Garlic press
8. Heat a large, heavy skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
9. Add the olive oil.
10. Place the sausage pieces into the hot pan.
11. Cook for approximately 6–8 minutes , turning occasionally, until browned on several sides.
12. The sausage doesn’t necessarily need to be completely cooked at this stage because it will continue cooking later. Cooking classes online
13. Remove the sausage and place it on a plate.
14. Keep the skillet over medium heat. Cooking classes online
15. Add the sliced onions.
16. If the pan seems dry, add another tablespoon of olive oil.
17. Cook the onions for about 5–7 minutes , stirring occasionally.
18. They should begin to soften and turn golden.
19. For a deeper old-fashioned flavor, allow them to cook slowly rather than rushing this step.
20. Add the red, green, and yellow peppers.
21. Stir everything together.
22. Cook for another 7–10 minutes .
23. The vegetables should become tender but still retain a little texture.
24. Add:
25. Salt
26. Black pepper
27. Italian seasoning
28. Oregano
29. Smoked paprika
30. Mix well.
31. Add the minced garlic. Garlic press
32. Cook for approximately 30–60 seconds .
33. Don’t cook the garlic too long at high heat because burnt garlic can become bitter.
34. Add the tomato paste.
35. Stir it through the vegetables and cook for approximately 1–2 minutes .
36. This helps caramelize the tomato paste and gives the finished dish deeper flavor.
37. Add the diced tomatoes and broth.
38. Then add Worcestershire sauce if desired.
39. Stir everything together.
40. Place the browned sausage back into the skillet.
41. Stir the sausage into the onions and peppers.
42. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
43. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
44. Cover the skillet loosely.
45. Cook for approximately 12–18 minutes , stirring occasionally.
46. The sausage should be fully cooked and the vegetables should become tender.
47. Remove the lid during the final few minutes.
48. Allow some of the liquid to evaporate.
49. This concentrates the flavors and gives you a thicker, richer sauce.
50. Taste.
51. If the tomatoes taste too acidic, add ½–1 teaspoon sugar .
52. For additional brightness, add a small splash of balsamic vinegar.
53. Adjust salt and black pepper as needed.
54. Turn off the heat.
55. Sprinkle the skillet with fresh parsley.
56. Add fresh basil if desired.
57. Finish with freshly cracked black pepper.
58. For an extra-rich version, sprinkle Parmesan over the top.
59. A small drizzle of good olive oil can also give the dish a beautiful finishing touch.
60. The secret to making this dish taste like something from an old family kitchen is not complicated seasoning .
61. It is the cooking process. Cooking classes online

The traditional method:

1. Brown → Remove → Caramelize → Season → Simmer → Reduce → Finish
2. The sausage should first be browned until it develops a delicious crust.
3. The onions are then cooked in the flavorful sausage drippings.
4. The peppers absorb that flavor.
5. Garlic is added later so it doesn’t burn.
6. Tomatoes and broth create the sauce.
7. Finally, the sausage goes back into the pan so all the flavors can mingle.
8. This gives you a much richer result than simply throwing everything into a pan at the same time. Garlic press

Notes

Allow leftovers to cool before transferring them to an airtight container. Salad meal kit Store for approximately 3–4 days . Freeze in airtight containers for approximately 2–3 months for best quality. Reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add a splash of broth or water if the sauce has become too thick. You can also microwave individual portions until thoroughly hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 430–500 kcal · Protein: 22–27 g · Fat: 30–36 g · Carbohydrates: 18–23 g · Saturated Fat: 9–12 g · Fiber: 4–5 g · Sugar: 8–10 g · Sodium: 850–1,100 mg