FAMILIES FAVORITE HOT SAUSAGE SANDWICHES

Families Favorite Hot Sausage Sandwiches image

I'm always volunteered to make the hot sausage in my family, for gatherings...I usually make 4 - 5 pounds worth...my whole family went on vacation, so was just my family today, had to keep up with tradition, so made just a pounds worth...needless to say, its gone...lol! Peppers, onion, mushrooms and my own sauce adorns this...

Provided by Cassie *

Time 2h45m

Number Of Ingredients 21

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Ingredients

COOK TIME IS FOR THE SAUCE - IF NOT MAKING, CUT TIME DOWN TO ABOUT 45 MINUTES
1 lb hot or sweet italian sausage - cut into bite sized pieces
1 onion, sliced
8 baby portabella mushrooms, sliced
one each, red bell pepper and green bell pepper, sliced
sauce mine or yours
garlic bread - texas toast garlic bread works great for this
SAUCE
olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 clove garlic, smashed
1 - 28 oz can, crushed tomatoes
1 small can, tomato paste
1/2 tsp salt & fresh ground pepper
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 c red or masala wine
1 tsp each - dried oregano and dried basil
1/2 tsp garlic powder
fresh parsley
shredded parmesan- about 1/2 cup
water for thinning sauce as needed

Steps:

1. For the sauce: In a large skillet, over medium heat, add a few tablespoons olive oil. Once oil is hot, add the onions and garlic. Cook until onions are tender, stirring occasionally. ( about 10 minutes.)
2. Add the wine, tomatoes, paste, basil, sugar, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 2 hours. Stir occasionally checking every so often to add some water when becomes too thick - about 1/4 cup at a time.
3. Once the sauce has simmered for a few hours. Add the fresh parsley and parmesan. Stir and set aside. ( if you don't use a fresh sauce, and are using store bought, make sure you doctor it up with seasonings and especially garlic.
4. Sausage: In a large skillet. Cook your pieces of sausage over medium heat, stirring frequently so as not to burn. I just shake the skillet occasionally. Once sausage is cooked through and browning. Drain on paper towel and set aside.
5. Over medium heat,in the same skillet as you fried sausage, add about 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the onion, peppers, mushrooms.( salt and pepper.) and minced garlic if not using a sauce. Saute until vegetables are tender, don't overcook as they will simmer for a bit in the sauce. ( if not using a sauce, cook veggies until completely tender.)
6. Once veggies are cooked; add the sausage back to the pan. ( This can actually be served as shown, if you don't like sauce.)
7. Measure about 2 cups prepared sauce, ( more depending how saucy you want them.) Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes.
8. Turn on broiler or grill. Toast desired amount of garlic bread you will need, until golden.
9. Top one half with sausage mixture...sprinkle with Parmesan and is feasting time. I've also used this sausage mixture to serve over pasta. Also, if you like it hotter, sprinkle with some red pepper flakes. This is great in hoagie rolls as well. Can also be kept warm in a crock pot or if making triple batches, have kept hot in a roaster. Serve this at your next picnic, it will be gone in no time. :)