Spicy Roasted Tomato and Ricotta Pasta Sauce

Description

Roasting tomatoes is an easy way to add a flavorful punch to your pasta sauce! Add in light and creamy ricotta and savory Italian sausage and you have the perfect complement to a hearty pasta like cavatappi or farfalle.

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ pounds Roma tomatoes, cored and halved lengthwise
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons salt, divided
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (Optional)
  • 19 ounces ground hot Italian sausage
  • ½ sweet onion, halved and thinly sliced
  • 1 (8 ounce) container ricotta cheese
  • 1 ounce grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Toss tomatoes
  3. 4 tablespoons olive oil
  4. garlic
  5. 1/4 teaspoon salt
  6. and pepper together in a medium bowl. Place tomatoes cut-side up in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
  7. Bake in the preheated oven until soft and juicy
  8. about 2 hours. Remove from the oven. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  9. Sprinkle remaining 1 teaspoon salt
  10. sugar
  11. Italian seasoning
  12. rosemary
  13. basil
  14. parsley
  15. garlic powder
  16. onion powder
  17. and red pepper flakes evenly over the tomatoes. Drizzle tops of tomatoes with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.
  18. Return baking sheet to the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
  19. Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Cook sausage and onion until sausage is no longer pink and onion softens
  20. about 7 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  21. Transfer roasted tomatoes and any juices to a food processor. Process to desired consistency. Add ricotta and Parmesan cheeses and pulse to combine. Pour tomato sauce into a bowl; mix in sausage-onion mixture.

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 2 hrs 20 mins

Total Time: 2 hrs 35 mins

Servings: 12

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