2 CHEESE PASTA WITH PANCETTA & SAUSAGE

2 Cheese Pasta With Pancetta & Sausage image

Provided by OceanIvy

Categories Pork

Time 35m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

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3 cups ricotta cheese, drained through fine strainer 30 minutess
1 lb ziti pasta or 1 lb similar pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 ounces pancetta, chopped
1/2 lb sweet bulk Italian sausage or 1/2 lb sausage links, with casing removed
2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
4 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped, about 2 tb (or one-half amount of dried rubbed sage)
salt & pepper, to taste
red pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 cup freshly grated romano cheese

Steps:

Cook pasta according to directions for al dente.
Heat a large sauté pan over med-high; add oil, then pancetta and sausage.
Brown, breaking up sausage as it cooks, around 4 minutes.
Remove all except 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil from pan; add garlic and sauté another minute.
Vigorously stir the ricotta until smooth; add to pan with sage, salt and pepper.
Stir until cheese combines with the sausage. If you like, add pepper flakes.
Drain pasta reserving about 1/2 cup of the liquid.
Add pasta to sauce with as much liquid needed to loosen sauce.
Add Romano cheese and toss well for about 1 minute.
Remove from heat and serve right away.
You may use more Romano if desired.