One pack of sausages will easily feed up to six people if you squeeze the meat out of the skins and cook with pasta and a rich tasting tomato sauce. You’ll need a large pan to cook everything as it all simmers together. Leftovers can be warmed up the next day or frozen for up to a month.
This recipe is part of a budget meal plan for six. In September 2023, this recipe was costed at an average of £3.60 when checking prices at four UK supermarkets. It is designed to be made in conjunction with a low-cost store-cupboard.
Ingredients
454g pack sausages (6–8 sausages), separated
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
350g/12oz dried penne pasta, or any other pasta shapes
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
½ tsp dried mixed herbs or oregano
1 head broccoli (about 350g/12oz), cut into small florets
salt and ground black pepper
Method
Squeeze the sausagemeat out of the skins and drop small pieces straight into a large, deep, non-stick frying pan, large wide-based saucepan or flame-proof casserole (it needs to be large enough to combine all the ingredients, including the pasta and water).
Add a tablespoon of the oil and cook the sausagemeat for 3 minutes over a high heat, or until beginning to brown, stirring regularly. Add the remaining oil and onion and cook together for 3 minutes more, or until the onion is softened and the sausage pieces are lightly browned, stirring regularly. Add a little more oil if needed.
Add the tinned tomatoes, 700ml water, the pasta, ketchup and mixed herbs. Cover with a lid and bring to a simmer. Then, reduce the heat and simmer gently with the lid on for 15 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and the sauce is thick, stirring regularly. Stir more often towards the end of the cooking time so the pasta doesn’t stick to the pan. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
Just before the pasta is ready, place the broccoli in a microwave-proof dish, add 3 tbsp water, cover and cook on high in a microwave for 5–7 minutes, stirring after 3 minutes, or until tender. (Alternatively, boil in a saucepan of water on the hob.) Serve the broccoli alongside the pasta.
