Brown Butter Garlic Pasta with Italian Sausage

True to the adage that if you have butter and garlic you can’t go wrong. Add browned butter to the mix and you are golden, literally. I like to use spicy Italian chicken sausage but you can use any range of heat of an Italian sausage to your liking. My sister made this dish for her husband, a picky-eater, and he said this was “the best dish he’s ever had”— words previously only reserved for a steak. Sometimes simplicity wins.

RECIPE

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 4 links Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage, casings removed, either crumbled or sliced

• 12 ounces of the pasta shape of your choice

• 4 tablespoons butter

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 1/2 cups parmesan cheese

• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• FOR THE SAUSAGE: Heat a medium sized skilled over medium heat. Add oil and heat. Add sausage and cook until golden on the exterior. Transfer to a towel-lined plate and set aside.

• FOR THE PASTA AND SAUCE: Bring a large, salted pot of water to boil. Cook pasta to package instructions. While the pasta is cooking, heat a large stainless steel skillet over medium heat. Add butter and stir often until it turns a golden brown. Turn the heat to low and add in garlic and cook 1-2 minutes more until the butter is a deep golden brown and garlic is fragrant. Whisky in heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Gradually whisk in 1 cup of parmesan, along with salt and pepper to taste.

• ASSEMBLY: Toss the pasta in the sauce with half the parsley. Adding an additional 1/2 cup of parmesan if the sauce needs thickening. Coat evenly and then add in cooked sausage. Serve with additional parsley, parmesan, and freshly cracked pepper!