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Bowties with Creamy Carrot Sauce and Italian Sausage

By Jessica Rudolph

Published on October 31, 2023

Time

40 Minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Bowties with Creamy Carrot Sauce and Italian Sausage

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided12 ounces cooked Italian chicken sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced ½ inch thick1 pound carrots, peeled and sliced thin¼ cup tomato paste 4 garlic cloves, chopped¾ teaspoon table salt, plus salt for cooking pasta½ teaspoon red pepper flakes 2 cups chicken broth 1 pound farfalle ¼ cup chopped fresh basil, plus extra for serving

Before You Begin

For a vegetarian meal, omit the sausages and substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth. For a vegan meal, make the above changes and substitute extra-virgin olive oil for the butter.

Instructions

  1. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until well browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to plate and tent with foil.
  2. Add remaining 4 tablespoons butter to fat remaining in skillet and melt over medium heat. Add carrots, tomato paste, garlic, salt, and pepper flakes and cook until beginning to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Add broth and simmer until carrots are tender and liquid is thickened, about 10 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Reserve 2 cups cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to pot. Transfer carrot mixture to blender. Add 1 cup reserved cooking water and blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Add sauce, sausage, and basil to pasta and stir to combine, adjusting consistency with remaining reserved cooking water as needed. Sprinkle with extra basil and serve.
Bowties with Creamy Carrot Sauce and Italian Sausage

Bowties with Creamy Carrot Sauce and Italian Sausage

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Time

40 Minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
12 ounces cooked Italian chicken sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced ½ inch thick
1 pound carrots, peeled and sliced thin
¼ cup tomato paste
4 garlic cloves, chopped
¾ teaspoon table salt, plus salt for cooking pasta
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 cups chicken broth
1 pound farfalle
¼ cup chopped fresh basil, plus extra for serving

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
12 ounces cooked Italian chicken sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced ½ inch thick
1 pound carrots, peeled and sliced thin
¼ cup tomato paste
4 garlic cloves, chopped
¾ teaspoon table salt, plus salt for cooking pasta
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 cups chicken broth
1 pound farfalle
¼ cup chopped fresh basil, plus extra for serving

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
12 ounces cooked Italian chicken sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced ½ inch thick
1 pound carrots, peeled and sliced thin
¼ cup tomato paste
4 garlic cloves, chopped
¾ teaspoon table salt, plus salt for cooking pasta
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 cups chicken broth
1 pound farfalle
¼ cup chopped fresh basil, plus extra for serving

Why This Recipe Works

Caramelized carrots added an unexpected earthy sweetness, as well as velvety texture, to this pasta sauce, while juicy chicken sausages added pops of savoriness.

Before You Begin

For a vegetarian meal, omit the sausages and substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth. For a vegan meal, make the above changes and substitute extra-virgin olive oil for the butter.

Instructions

  1. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until well browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to plate and tent with foil.
  2. Add remaining 4 tablespoons butter to fat remaining in skillet and melt over medium heat. Add carrots, tomato paste, garlic, salt, and pepper flakes and cook until beginning to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Add broth and simmer until carrots are tender and liquid is thickened, about 10 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Reserve 2 cups cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to pot. Transfer carrot mixture to blender. Add 1 cup reserved cooking water and blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Add sauce, sausage, and basil to pasta and stir to combine, adjusting consistency with remaining reserved cooking water as needed. Sprinkle with extra basil and serve.

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