Sausages in Red Wine

I can provide you with a classic and simple recipe for making sausages in red wine, a rustic and tasty dish that pairs perfectly with authentic Italian cuisine. Here’s how to do it:

Ingredients

• 4 pork sausages
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 400 ml of good quality red wine, preferably a full-bodied one
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• (Optional) A sprig of rosemary or some bay leaves for flavoring

Preparation

1. Start by heating the olive oil in a pan or large skillet. Add the peeled garlic cloves and let them brown for a couple of minutes over low heat to flavor the oil.
2. Add the sausages to the pan and raise the heat. Let them brown well on all sides until you get a nice golden crust on the outside.
3. Deglaze with the red wine, waiting a few moments for the alcohol to evaporate slightly. If you decide to use rosemary or bay leaves, add the aromatic herbs now.
4. Lower the heat, cover the pan with a lid, and let the sausages cook for about 20 minutes or until the wine has reduced to form a tasty sauce.
5. During cooking, turn the sausages occasionally to ensure they are evenly flavored.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste and, once cooked, remove the aromatic herbs and garlic.
7. Serve the sausages hot with their cooking sauce.

A suggestion is to serve this dish with a side of mashed potatoes or polenta, to best soak up the wine gravy. Also, considering the use of red wine in the recipe, a good pairing for this dish could be the same wine used for cooking, served at room temperature.

Curiosity

This dish has its origins in rustic inns and home kitchens, where the abundance of sausages and house red wine were combined to create a dish full of flavor and character. Each Italian region may have its variant, with different aromatic herbs or types of sausage used.