(Instant Pot) Sausage and Pasta Casserole

Serves 2 (+)

A perfect weeknight family meal, this sausage casserole is a one pot, Instant Pot, quick and easy satisfying meal that can be easily scaled up. The only things you scale up here are the sausages (2 per person), the carrot (1 per person), the pasta (75-100g per person) and the cups of water (1 per person). It requires about five or so minutes of work, and the Instant Pot does the rest. It’ll be on the table in no time.

N.b. If you do not have an Instant Pot, guidelines of how to cook this on the hob are included at the end.

• Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 red onion, large dice
• 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
• 1 pepper, deseeded, large dice
• 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1cm thick slices
• 4 sausages, cut in half (vegetarian/gluten-free if required)
• 150g-200g dried pasta (gluten-free if required)
• 500g passata
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (vegetarian/gluten-free if required, or simply leave out)
• Pinch of sugar
• Ground black pepper
• Pinch of salt
• 2 (Instant Pot) cups of water (320ml)

Step 1: Using sauté mode, add the oil and onion to the Instant Pot and sauté for a couple of minutes.

Step 2: Add the garlic and pepper and stir, followed by the carrots and sausages.

Step 3: Lightly brown the sausages for a couple more minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 4: Add the wet ingredients, salt, pepper, sugar and pasta. Stir.

Step 5: Close the lid and set the valve to sealing. Manually set the Instant Pot to high pressure for half the cooking time detailed on the pasta packet. It should be around four or five minutes.

Step 6: Once the Instant Pot has finished, carefully, using a tea towel and handle of a wooden spoon, turn the valve to venting to do quick release. Check seasoning and serve!

If you are not making this in the Instant Pot you can make this on the hob; cook the pasta separately, following the packet instructions. Make the sauce (without the water) in a pan on a medium heat, following steps 1-3, then cook for about twenty minutes on a low simmer. Stir through the cooked pasta and serve.