Sausage and tomato pasta recipe

This easy sausage and tomato pasta recipe is the perfect mid-week option for the whole family. It's packed full of flavour thanks to the rich tomato sauce! This hearty meal is ready on the table in 50 mins. This recipe is made with pork sausages and counts towards your 5-a-day too thanks to the carrots and tomatoes in the tomato herb based sauce. A sprinkling of sugar really brings out the flavour of the tomatoes but if you'd rather leave out for health reasons then do so. If you're making this recipe for kids and want to get some more veggies into their diet, why not add a handful of spinach or serve with a side of tenderstem broccoli. If you have any leftovers store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat thoroughly before serving.

Ingredients

• 10ml (2tsp) olive oil
• 8 good-quality pork sausages
• 1 red onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 large carrot, peeled and finely diced
• 400g can chopped tomatoes with herbs
• 10ml (2tsp) tomato purée
• 5ml (1tsp) sugar
• 275g (10oz) penne pasta

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the sausages until browned all over. Remove them from the pan and set aside. Add the onion and carrot to the frying pan and cook for 5 mins until softened. Stir in the tomatoes, purée and sugar and bring to the boil.
2. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 15 mins. Cut each sausage into 4 pieces and return to the sauce. Cook the sauce for a further 10-15 mins.
3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pan of lightly salted boiling water for 8-10 mins or according to the packet instructions. Drain well and stir into the tomato sauce. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately.