Vegan Sausage Ragu and Orecchiette Pasta is a perfect match. Those little round disks that hold extra sauce is comfort food at it’s best.
You may have noticed that I am a down-home cook. Whether it is American down-home, Italian down-home, Hispanic down-home or wherever down-home I love comfort food.
Ragu is a casual Italian comfort sauce with tomatoes and meat. Since my recipes are vegan I have added meatless plant based Italian Sausage. In my opinion, the best plant-based meats out there are the sausages. I think it is because of the addition of sage – so delicious.
It must be, at least, once a week that pasta goes down at our dinner table. Spaghetti, penne and macaroni are used a lot but do you know there are over 350 different pasta varieties out there?
I always forget to get fancy and change it up. Just their shapes and textures make a dish different.
Whether the sauce is white or red it works differently with various pastas and recipes. Some are better soup pastas and some are better salad pastas. Some are for stuffing and some are to hold the sauce better.
That is what Orecchiette is all about. It holds the sauce and gives you extra help for a great big bite of flavor.
This Vegan Sausage Ragu came about because of Ed. You see his favorite pasta is macaroni and you know what one of my least favorite pasta is? Macaroni. It is silly of me, I know, but I don’t like the shape in my mouth. Are you laughing? Go ahead. I can take it! It makes me laugh too.
So to continue … I went in search for a pasta that I could substitute for macaroni in some of my dishes that would make us both happy. Eureka! I found gold in the shape of little these round bowls. They feel so good in my mouth. Go ahead. Laughter is a good thing.
Please, have fun with this Vegan Sausage Ragu recipe too and feel confident that it will turn out good. Very simple to make and very satisfying to eat.
Vegan Sausage Ragu to the rescue!
Vegan Sausage Ragu with Orecchiette Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 package vegan meatless Italian Sausage this is not a sponsored post but i love and use Field Roast Apple and Sage
- 1 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 onion small onion, chopped
- 1 cup dairy free milk unsweetened
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 12 ounces orecchiette pasta
Instructions
- Do not cook the pasta if you are going to freeze the sauce for the future.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the directions.
- Drain the pasta when done and set aside.
- While this is coming to a boil prepare your meatless sausage.
- Take the wrapping off of the meatless Italian sausage and cut into 1/4" to 1/2 " slices.
- In a large skillet heat the oil and add the onion. Saute for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the onion from the pan and set aside.
- Add the meatless sausage and brown on each side. I did this in three batches so I had plenty of room for flipping over the sausage.
- Add a teaspoon of oil between batches if needed.
- When meatless sausage is completed add all of the sausage back to the pan along with the onion, tomato paste, milk, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
- Cook for about 10 minutes to thicken up the sauce a bit.
- If you are serving now:
- Add the cooked pasta.
- Stir and heat through.
- Serve with a salad and crusty bread.
Notes
Nutrition
Karen
This really was a delicious recipe. The sauce was perfect with a creamy twist. It was all so flavorful!
Ginny McMeans
You are so welcome Liza and thank you!
Liza M
This looks so good! Thanks for the recipe!
Ginny McMeans
Thanks so much Brsndi! It is god stuff 🙂
Ginny McMeans
You have to Alissa 🙂 Good comfort food too.
Alisa Fleming
I love dishes like this – so easy and flavorful. I haven’t tried the Field Roast sausages – will have to taste test those!
Ginny McMeans
Oh, yes! Please try it on your dad! Fingers crossed 🙂 Thanks so much Vanessa!
Vanessa @ VeganFamilyRecipes.com
This looks like the perfect recipe to get my dad (this ultimate meat eater) to try a vegan dish! Wonderful recipe, Ginny! Pinning 😉
Ginny McMeans
Us too Mel. It is a traditional comfort pasta meal. Hope you get to make it soon and thanks so much!
Ginny McMeans
Hahaha, Thanks so much Leah!
The vegan 8
This looks so delicious and comforting Ginny! Pasta is weekly for us here too!
The Vegan 8
Oh yum Ginny! You are just like me, pasta every week! It is one of my favorite things to cook and eat! This looks so wonderfully comforting and delicious!
Mel @ avirtualvegan.com
I love meals like this. I used to make something similar before I was vegan. i need to try your version with some veggie sausages. It sounds awesome!
Ginny McMeans
Hahaha! Yes, it makes your stomach growl. 🙂
Ginny McMeans
Thanks Natalie!
Aimee
It’s after midnight and I’m now fixated on wanting to eat this! I MUST stop reading food blogs this time of the night 😀
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit
I need this pasta shape in my life! Like tiny little sauce catching bowls 🙂 This is total delicious comfort food!
Ginny McMeans
It took a lot for me to let that out Jenn. 🙂 Thanks too!
Ginny McMeans
Wow! It really is a good go-to Becky.
Jenn
This looks so good! The perfect family meal! And that is so funny that you don’t like macaroni noodles!! 🙂
Becky Striepe
That Field Roast apple sausage is my favorite, too! We buy it almost every week.
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What a fabulous comfort meal! Orecchiette is one of my favorite pasta shapes!