This sausage harissa pasta is creamy, indulgent, spicy and packed with flavour!
When I tell you this recipe is pure comfort food through and through, I truly mean it. Grab your eating pants because things are about to get real tasty real quick! Follow me…
Harissa Sausage Pasta
I was actually kind of late to the harissa train, but now I’m fully on board and I can’t get enough of the stuff! Mainly because I love anything with a kick of spice, but harissa paste has such a unique and delicious flavour.
What is Harissa Paste?
It has a base of roasted red peppers & Baklouti peppers and is packed with various different spices. It’s essentially a hot chilli paste!
Sausage Pasta
I originally tested this recipe without meat, and just as a creamy spicy pasta kind of dish. Something was missing though, and whilst chicken would have worked, I found that adding sausage just took things through the roof. It takes on the gorgeously rich and spicy flavours of the dish so well.
Process shots: fry onion and garlic (photo 1), fry sausage (photo 2), fry harissa paste and tomato puree (photo 3), add stock and cream (photo 4), stir in parmesan, parsley and sun dried tomatoes (photo 5), toss in pasta (photo 6).
Sausage Harissa Pasta FAQ
Where can I find Harissa Paste?
You’ll find it in small jars in most supermarkets, often near the seasoning section. I like rose harissa, but you can use regular if you’d prefer. Belazu is a pretty solid brand if you’re looking for recommendations.
What kind of sausage should I use?
If you’re in the UK I recommend grabbing a pack of plain sausage meat. Failing that, just squeeze the meat from some pork sausages. US – if you can get plain sausage meat use that, if not I imagine mild Italian sausage could work!
How spicy is this pasta?
It’s got a kick, but certainly nothing over the top. I’ve tried a range of different harissa paste brands and whilst they do vary in spice, I’ve never found any overbearing.
What sort of pasta should I use?
Here I use Bucatini. I love the thick texture and find it works really well in this dish. In reality though any long-cut pasta will do the trick.
Serving Sausage Harissa Pasta
I like to finish with an extra pinch of parmesan and parsley, but that’s completely optional. This is a pretty hearty dish that will comfortably feed 2 without sides!
Alright, let’s tuck into the full recipe for this sausage harissa pasta shall we?!
How to make a Harissa Sausage Pasta (Full Recipe & Video)
Sausage Harissa Pasta
Equipment
- Large Pan & Wooden Spoon
- Large Pot & Tongs
- Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
- Jug (for stock)
- Fine Cheese Grater
Ingredients
- 1 small White Onion, finely diced
- 2 - 3 cloves of Garlic, finely diced
- 250g / 9oz Sausage Meat (see notes)
- 200g / 7oz Long-Cut Pasta (here I use Bucatini)
- 2 tbsp Harissa Paste (see notes)
- 2 tbsp Tomato Puree (Tomato Paste in US)
- 120ml / 1/2 cup Chicken Stock
- 160ml / 2/3 cup Double/Heavy Cream, at room temp
- 20g / 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus more to serve if desired
- 2 tbsp finely diced Fresh Parsley, plus more to serve if desired
- 60g / 2oz Sun Dried Tomatoes, finely diced
- Olive Oil, as needed
- Salt & Pepper, as needed
Instructions
- Add a drizzle of oil to a large pan over medium heat, then add in the onion. Fry until it begins to soften, then add in the garlic and fry for 30 seconds or so longer. Add in the sausage and fry until golden brown, using your wooden spoon to crumble it as you go.
- Meanwhile, add the pasta to salted boiling water and cook until al dente. Don't drain.
- Stir the tomato puree and harissa paste into the sausage and fry for a minute or so. Pour in the chicken stock and cream, then stir in the parmesan, sun dried tomatoes and parsley. Simmer and stir for a few mins until the sauce thickens. Check for seasoning then turn the heat to low.
- Use tongs to transfer the pasta straight from the pot into the pan. Toss until the sauce thickens around and clings to the pasta. If the sauce dries out just toss in more starchy pasta water a splash at a time.
- Serve with more parsley and parmesan (optional) then tuck in and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Your Private Notes:
Nutrition
Looking for more?
You’ll find plenty more delicious comfort food like this in my Debut Cookbook ‘Comfy’
For more spicy pasta recipes check out my Spicy Chicken Pasta and Spicy Rigatoni!
For more similar recipes check out these beauties:
Sausage Pasta Recipe
- Sausage and Pepper Pasta
- Sausage and Fennel Pasta
- Creamy Tomato Sausage Pasta
- Orecchiette with Sausage
- Penne Arrabiata with Smoked Sausage
- One Pot Spicy Sausage Tortellini
Made this as written, and used rose harissa by Belazu ( the best ever) but found it too heavy. Will make it again, but will use less cream.
Hey Dominique! Sorry to hear it was a little rich, hope it works out to your taste next time. Thanks so much for the review 🙂 C.
Delicious and hearty. My son and I love this recipe.
Thanks so much for the review, Lucy! 🙂 C.
Absolutely delicious. Could you use Chipotle Paste instead of Harissa?
You could certainly give it a go! C.