How to Cook Italian Sausages and Peppers

Use fresh uncooked sausage for best results.

Italian sausage and peppers is a classic combination for several reasons. The sausage's piquancy plays well off the sweetness of the bell peppers and creates a harmony of flavor not present when cooked independently. Using a cooking technique that takes advantage of the sausage's velvety fat elevates the dish from exceptional street food to refined main course. The time it takes to cook the peppers in slowly rendered sausage fat is compensated by taste and texture. The saltiness of Italian sausage varies, so wait until the end of cooking to season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Things You'll Need

• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 4 Italian sausages
• Fork
• Slotted spoon
• Cutting board
• Plate
• Paper towels
• 2 cups sliced bell peppers of differing colors (for aesthetic purposes only)
• 1 clove finely minced garlic
• Herbs and spices to taste
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Heat 1 tbsp. of olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat for five minutes. Use a fork to puncture 1/4-inch deep in four Italian pork sausages. Place the sausages in the pan and saute until most of the fat renders out, approximately five minutes.

2. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and transfer it to a cutting board. Slice the sausage in 1/4-inch slices and return them to the pan. Continue sauteing until cooked through, approximately five minutes.

3. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and place it on a plate lined with paper towels. Add 2 cups of sliced bell peppers and one clove of finely minced garlic to the pan and season to taste with your choice of herbs and spices. Herbs and spices that pair well with sausage and peppers include sage, smoked paprika, rosemary, basil and tarragon.

4. Return the sausage to the pan and continue cooking until heated through, approximately three minutes. Taste the sausage and peppers and season as needed with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Tips & Warnings

• Use hot Italian sausages or sweet Italian sausages depending on your taste.

• Use a mixture of red and green peppers for an additional splash of color.

• Always ensure that sausages are cooked entirely through. The USDA recommends internal temperature that is 160 degrees. Check the temperature with an instant-read thermometer.

References

• "Food and Wine"; Italian Sausage Heroes with Peppers and Onions; David Rosengarten; October 2003