Recipe: Fried Sausage Sandwiches with Peppers and Onions and Pizzaiola Sauce

Fried Sausages with Peppers and Onions

FOR THE PIZZAIOLA SAUCE:
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 (17 oz) can Italian plum tomatoes
1/2 small can tomato paste
2 tbsp dried leaf oregano, crumbled
1 tsp dried leaf basil, crumbled (or 4 fresh basil leaves, chopped)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
FOR THE SAUSAGE, PEPPERS, AND ONIONS:
3 tbsp olive oil
2 medium onions, thinly sliced, separated into rings
3 banana peppers, cut in thin strips
1 1/2 lbs Italian sausage links
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp dried leaf oregano, crushed
TO SERVE:
4 hero rolls

TO PREPARE THE PIZZAIOLA SAUCE:
Heat olive oil and slowly saute the garlic until golden brown.

Drain tomatoes, reserving the liquid. Chop the tomatoes coarsely and stir into the garlic. Simmer covered for 15 minutes.

Add tomato paste which is mixed with 3 tbsp of the tomato juice. Add the oregano and basil and season with salt and pepper. Simmer 15 minutes, adding more tomato juice if the sauce is too thick and more paste if it is too thin.

TO PREPARE THE SAUSAGE, PEPPERS, AND ONIONS:
Heat oil in a large skillet. Gently saute onion rings and pepper slices, stirring frequently until they are tender and the edges are faintly golden brown. Remove and reserve.

Prick sausages; add to the skillet and brown slowly, rotating frequently so all sides brown. Cut sausages into 1 1/2 inch pieces.

Return onions and peppers to the pan and sprinkle with salt, oregano and basil. Cover and braise over very low heat until sausages are done - about 10 more minutes.

TO SERVE:
Place sausages, onions and peppers on hero loaves and top with pizzaiola sauce.

Servings: 4
Source: Family Circle magazine, August, 1975