Sausage and Peppers

This sausage and peppers recipe is an Italian-American classic, with sweet bell peppers served with Italian sausage. Serve it on its own or on a bun! Make it mild or spicy.

Ingredients:

•     3 tablespoons olive oil
•     4 Italian Sausages
•     3 Bell Peppers sliced into strips
•     1 medium sweet onion sliced
•     6 cloves garlic chopped
•     1/2 cup red wine or use chicken broth or water
•     15 ounces fire roasted tomatoes
•     2 teaspoons dried basil or use fresh chopped
•     2 teaspoons dried oregano or use fresh chopped
•     1 tablespoon spicy red pepper flakes for a spicier version, optional
•     Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pan to medium heat. Add the Italian sausages and brown them on each side, about 5 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove the sausages and set them aside. Return the pan to medium heat.
2. Add the sliced peppers and onions to the pan and cook them down for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to get all of the peppers. Cook until they begin to soften up. I like to get a bit of a char on them.
3. Add the garlic and cook another minute, until the garlic is fragrant.
4. Add the red wine (or white wine, broth or water) to the plan to deglaze it. Scrape up any of the flavorful brown bits from the bottom. Cook for 3-4 minutes to reduce the liquid.
5. Add the tomatoes, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste. Return the sausages to the pan – just nestle them into the peppers and sauce.
6. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the sausages cook through and the mixture becomes a bit saucy.
7. Serve and enjoy!