Sausage Ragu with Penne

Our family loves pasta nights, and this homemade marinara with hearty sausage is easy and delicious — and it's great knowing where the ingredients came from. Serve with garlic bread and a salad.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 1 tsp ground garlic
• 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
• 1 package hot ground sausage
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 pound penne pasta

Instructions

1. Add olive oil to a skillet. Once hot, add the grated carrot, celery, and onion and cook a couple of minutes until starting to soften — don't let it get too brown.
2. Add the ground sausage and cook with the veggies until browned.
3. Add the garlic, fennel seeds, vinegar, and crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Cook on medium-low for at least 15–20 minutes.
4. Boil the pasta water and add the penne. Save about 1 cup of the pasta water before draining.
5. Toss the penne in the sauce, adding up to 1 cup of the pasta water until you get the desired consistency.
6. Serve with garlic bread and a salad.