Fresh Tomato and Sausage Ragu
Use your fresh garden tomatoes to make homemade pasta sauce this summer. This easy tomato sausage ragu recipe will make you think twice about pulling out a can of tomatoes.

The first few edible plants I ever had luck with were mint, basil and tomatoes.
That first year I started a “garden” in large pots on my deck, I was so thrilled when I finally had a fistful of fresh mint to make iced tea, and just enough basil and tomatoes to make homemade pasta sauce.
It was a small batch of my favorite ragu recipe, mind you, but a satisfying feat nonetheless.

Nowadays, I’m still not a great gardener, but I do happen to get a mess of tomatoes each year, along with a healthy amount of basil and mint. Everything else I plant is a crapshoot.
There’s just nothing like cooking with fresh garden tomatoes. The flavor is so sweet and perky it can’t be replicated by something found in a tin can.
This homemade pasta sauce is a family favorite, because it’s blend of fresh garden flavors, italian sausage and a touch of wine.

You start by scoring and blanching fresh tomatoes, just long enough that the skins slip off.

Then once the sausage is browned, add onions, garlic, basil and those lovely fresh tomatoes to the sausage.

Pour in a little wine and a spoonful or two of tomato paste for thickening, and slow cook to perfection.
Perfection takes about an hour or so…

Serve this homemade pasta sauce over your favorite pasta. Of course, I used Delallo pasta, going with Delallo’s Organic Whole Wheat Rigatoni so the sauce would fill the tubes and provide that extra punch of flavor in every bite!
This ragu recipe is so simple, it’s sure to become one of your favorites as well. It’s a great way to use up your garden tomatoes this year.

More Summer Pasta Dishes
Orecchiette with Roasted Grapes and Tomatoes
Pasta Burrata with Roasted Summer Vegetables
Orecchiette Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes and Grapes
Arugula Pesto Pasta ~ Gimme Some Oven
Chinese Chicken Salad ~ Foodie Crush
 Brown Butter Garden Pasta ~ How Sweet It Is
Homemade Pasta Sauce - Ragu Recipe with Tomato and Sausage
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 pounds fresh roma tomatoes plum tomatoes
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 onions chopped
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves chopped
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- Salt and pepper
- 1 pound Delallo Pasta I used Whole Wheat Rigatoni
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of water and gently score the top of each tomato. Once the water is boiling, carefully drop the tomatoes into the water and blanch for 1-2 minutes. Scoop the tomatoes out of the water with a slotted spoon and place in a large bowl of ice water. Once the tomatoes are cool, peel off the skins—they should slip right off. Chop the tomatoes and set aside.
- Place a large pot over medium heat. Melt the butter in the pot and brown the sausage, breaking it apart with your spoon. Add the onions and garlic then saute another 5 minutes to soften the onions.
- Add in the tomatoes, chopped basil, wine, tomato paste, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover, lower the heat and simmer for 1 hour.
- Remove the lid and simmer another 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and serve with a hearty amount of the warm ragu.


Love all of those fresh tomatoes. This sounds so great!!
An hour to wait is nothing when perfection is the end goal. Looks like you reached it, Sommer!
Perfect use for my fresh tomatoes!
oh my, this looks SO good!!!
I could just devour my computer screen right now – YUM!
Such a beautiful recipe!!
Incredible summer pasta dish, Sommer! I love how easy your recipe is, too! Thanks for sharing. :)
love the use of fresh produce from your own garden in this recipe!! this looks so comforting and delectable!
We eat whole wheat noodles exclusively in our house, they are so much heartier, not to mention better for you. What a great summer recipe!
And now I’m craving pasta and sauce at 7:27am. ;) I think I’ll just keep eating like I’m in Austin.
Your garden sounds awesome and I am jealous! I can not get a whole lot to grow were I live.
This ragu is calling my name! I love summer pastas!
How awesome to have your own garden for a great recipe!