Sausage Rigatoni alla Zozzona

5 from 22 votes

This sausage rigatoni alla Zozzona from Rome is a great family weeknight meal recipe. It's hearty and filling and easy to make.

Prep Time15

Cook Time25

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Central Italy, Italian, Mediterranean, Rome & Lazio

Keyword: authentic Italian pasta recipe, Italian sausage, rigatoni, Roman cuisine, sausage pasta

Servings:

Calories: 993kcal

Author: Jacqui

Ingredients

320 g rigatoni (12oz) or other type of pasta tube
2-3 Italian pork sausages skins removed
200 g pork cheek (guanciale) (7oz) or pancetta cut into cubes
450 g tomato passata (1lb) or peeled tomatoes
1 onion peeled and finely chopped
3 egg yolks
100 g Pecorino Romano (3.5oz)
salt for pasta and taste
ground black pepper

Instructions

Peel and chop the onion finely. Remove the sausage meat from the skin and chop or break into small pieces. Cut the guanciale or pancetta into small cubes or lardons. If using fresh tomatoes, blanch them in boiling water, peel and cut into quarters.
Fry the onion in olive oil until it starts to become translucent. Then add the sausage meat and the guanciale/pancetta. When the guanciale and sausage has started to brown add the tomatoes/tomato passata. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
While the sauce is cooking boil the water for the pasta. Add salt once it starts to boil and bring to the boil again. Cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the packet. When the pasta is ready, save a little of the cooking water and drain.
Beat the egg yolk with a fork and add pepper and a couple of tablespoons of pecorino, mix well.
Add the pasta to the pan with the sauce and sauté for a couple of minutes. Remove the pan from the heat or move the pasta and sauce to a serving bowl and add the egg yolks and cheese. Mix everything together well. Serve immediately with some more Pecorino and black pepper as required.

Notes

It's important to add the egg yolks and cheese OFF THE HEAT, otherwise the eggs will scramble. Mix everything together well immediately and serve. Leftovers are delicious baked with some slices of mozzarella on top.This recipe is traditionally made with rigatoni but you can use other types of pasta tubes such as large or small penne, tortiglioni, fusilli etc

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