Madispace

This spicy rigatoni pasta is the perfect “date night in” dish. Creamy and full of flavor, it has just the right amount of heat to make a simple weeknight feel special. Pair it with a glass of wine and you’ve got a little Italian romance at home.

Ingredients

• 12oz rigatoni pasta
• 2 zucchini
• 2 chopped garlic cloves
• 1 lb hot Italian sausage
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/4 cup cream cheese
• 1 tsp red chilli flakes
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp butter

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil for pasta.
2. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain and set pasta aside.
3. Cut zucchini into 1/4 inch thick half moons.
4. While pasta cooks, cook zucchini over medium-high heat in pan with oil until browned and tender. About 5-6 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
5. In same pan, cook Italian sausage on medium-high heat until browned.
6. Add in garlic and tomato paste and cook until tomato paste is well dissolved in sausage.
7. Stir in cream cheese, 1/2 cup pasta water, butter, and chili flakes.
8. Add drained pasta and zucchini to pan with sauce and turn over until coated. Stir in parmesan and season with salt and pepper.
9. Serve immediately in bowls and top with more parmesan if desired.