Every New Year’s Day growing up, summer sausage or smoked sausage logs were part of the day’s food staples along with the parade. Cheese and crackers, some fruit, and more chip and dips than anyone should ever consume were aplenty. My favorite: a brick of cream cheese with salsa poured over the top. Still love it today.
Recently, I went on a cheese binge buying spree when I was at Whole Foods in Salt Lake City. I had $50 in gift cards that I won in raffles and now was the time to spend them. Sure, I could have gone conservative and picked up some nice organic veggies or more pantry stables, but that’s just silly. So, cheese it was!
A friend was coming by to hang out and watch another episode of “Orange is the New Black” (he’s seriously behind) and asked what he could bring. Since I was going to provide cheese, crackers, and wine, I suggested a summer sausage would be perfect. Now I was expecting just the typical 9 oz package but he came with this huge, double in length hunk of summer sausage. We made a dent in it that night, but I knew I’d be eating it for weeks to come. I decided I should make a dinner out of it.
When the weekend came, I took that sausage, cut it up, threw in some vegetables and made a quick parmesan cream sauce and tossed it all with some farfalle pasta (bow ties). Dinner was done and delicious. The sear on the sausage was amazingly good. I have never cooked it before so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I loved the results. As did the other four at the table.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pint cherry or grape tomatoes; halved
- 1/2 onion; diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper; diced
- 1 zucchini; quartered and sliced
- 9 oz . pkg of summer sausage (or similar); quartered and sliced
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp . extra virgin olive oil
- 1/8 tsp . salt and pepper; +/- to taste
- 1/2 tsp . Italian seasoning
Sauce
- 1-15 oz can chicken broth
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup cream
- 2 tbsp . flour
- 1/8 tsp . black pepper
- 3/4-1 lb farfalle pasta
Instructions
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Cook the pasta according to package directions; drain once cooked.
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In a large sauté pan, quickly sear the summer sausage on both sides on medium-high, about 2 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
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Drain any rendered fat.
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In the same sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium high heat.
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Add all the vegetables, garlic, and the salt and pepper, sauté them for 4-6 minutes or until they have reached the desired doneness.
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Add the Italian seasoning, mix well.
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Return the meat to the pan and combine with the veggies.
Sauce
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While the vegetables are sautéing, in a sauce pan, whisk together the flour and about 1/4 cup of the chicken broth until smooth.
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Once roux is smooth, add the remaining broth and slowly whisk in the parmesan cheese.
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After the cheese and broth are combined, add in the cream and continue to whisk together, add the black pepper.
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Combine the pasta, meat/veggies, and sauce, Mix well and serve.
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Enjoy.

40 Comments
Linda Omura
January 7, 2015 at 7:09 amLooks delicious! Your photography is beautiful! I’m following you on all social media now. Let’s keep in touch.
Linda @foodhuntress.com
Michelle
January 7, 2015 at 12:11 pmThank you Linda, I will make the rounds to yours today as well!
Anna | ANNAdventure
January 7, 2015 at 10:31 amOMG its almost lunch time over here in Colorado and I am HUUUUUUUUNGRAY! This post is teasing me, looks so good
Michelle
January 7, 2015 at 12:08 pmHappy to tantalize your tastebuds Anna!
fabiola@notjustbaked
January 7, 2015 at 1:15 pmEverything about this makes me want pasta right now! Super pretty!
Michelle
January 12, 2015 at 6:29 pmHope you enjoy it.
The Food Hunter
January 7, 2015 at 1:26 pmif I could reach through the screen this would be gone.
Michelle
January 12, 2015 at 6:30 pmFantastic thought! Thank you FH.
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
January 7, 2015 at 2:33 pmI am sucker for a good pasta dish, any day of the week! Looks wonderful!
Michelle
January 7, 2015 at 7:39 pmThanks Erin!
Kristen
January 7, 2015 at 7:23 pmI love summer sausage. I haven’t had any in so long, but looking at your pasta dish, I am thinking I might need a double length of it, too; one for a pasta dinner and one for snacking!
Michelle
January 7, 2015 at 7:43 pmI think that is a most excellent plan Kristen!
Culinary Flavors
January 8, 2015 at 2:43 amThis salad looks absolutely perfect! Refreshing and super tasty!
Michelle
January 8, 2015 at 11:47 amThat’s the unique thing with this dish, tastes great served hot or cold.
Jenn @ Deliciously Sprinkled
January 8, 2015 at 11:36 amWe love summer sausage and this pasta dish looks amazing! 🙂
Michelle
January 8, 2015 at 11:46 amThank you Jenn! It was a fun (an easy) dish to make.
Suzy @ The Mediterranean Dish
January 8, 2015 at 12:04 pmThis is just the right pasta bite, Michelle! Yum!
Michelle
January 8, 2015 at 12:24 pmThank you Suzy!
Linda (Meal Planning Maven)
January 8, 2015 at 6:13 pmWhat a stunning dish! Sure to brighten up a dreary winter day!..
Michelle
January 8, 2015 at 10:39 pmThank you Linda. It really does brighten up the winter dull drums.
Lucy @ Bake Play Smile
January 8, 2015 at 6:32 pmOh yum! Thank you – you’ve just solved my dilemma of what to have for dinner! I have all these ingredients at home! Yay. Thanks 🙂
Michelle
January 9, 2015 at 12:37 amOh great! Hope you enjoy it Lucy!
Debra @ Bowl Me Over
January 9, 2015 at 10:09 pmI’m thinking those four people around your table are lucky folks! The pasta looks amazing!!!
Michelle
January 10, 2015 at 11:27 amThank you Debra, it was a tasty dinner that night.
Healing Tomato
January 10, 2015 at 10:54 pmI love the colors in this recipe and your farfalle ideas are so great. I finally caught up with OITNB. Love that show!
Michelle
January 11, 2015 at 12:41 amI cant wait for the next season.
Nicole Neverman
January 25, 2015 at 3:30 pmThis farfalle sounds fantastic! I especially love the sound of that sauce 🙂
Michelle
January 25, 2015 at 8:51 pmThe sauce is really tasty…I use it in a lot of dishes when I want creamy and cheesy.
Marye
January 26, 2016 at 5:44 amThis looks so deliciously bright and sunny, it definitely reminds me of summer!
Michelle De La Cerda
January 26, 2016 at 10:20 amYes, I hope dishes like this entice the warmer weather. 😉
Kellie @ The Suburban Soapbox
January 26, 2016 at 7:50 amI never though to put summer sausage in a pasta dish, I usually just eat it with cheese and crackers. This is genius!
Michelle De La Cerda
January 26, 2016 at 10:19 amOh I love it with cheese and crackers too!
Florian @ContetednessCooking
January 26, 2016 at 8:13 amsuch a comfort dish! Great addition with the veggies.
Michelle De La Cerda
January 26, 2016 at 10:19 amThank you Florian.
Elena
January 26, 2016 at 6:36 pmTwo of my favorite things- farfalle and summer sausage! This looks like it’ll hit the spot!
Michelle De La Cerda
January 26, 2016 at 6:46 pmI hope it does!!!
Laura
January 26, 2016 at 7:16 pmI love sausage tossed with pasta–this looks awesome! And cheese was totally the way to go at Whole Foods lol…
Michelle De La Cerda
January 27, 2016 at 9:10 amYes to the cheese, always, yes to the cheese.
Megan
September 17, 2019 at 8:25 pmSubbed out the zucchini for some sweet corn. Gave it a great crunch and a little sweetness. Served warm or cold, it’s delicious and flavorful!
Michelle De La Cerda
September 17, 2019 at 8:50 pmOh I am going to try it with sweet corn, thank you!