Peppers and onions with Italian sausage

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
• 2 peppers, sliced
• 2 yellow onions, sliced
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 cup Marsala wine (or chicken broth)
• 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes
• Salt to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

Preparation

1. Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausages and let them brown on both sides, about 7 to 10 minutes. Remove them from the pan and let them drain.
2. Keeping the pan over medium heat, add the Italian seasoning, basil and garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.
3. Add the Marsala wine, tomatoes and tomato paste and stir, adding the chilli flakes if necessary.
4. Add bell peppers, onions, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
5. Put the sausage back into the pan with the vegetables. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes or until sauce thickens.
6. Serve over mashed potatoes, pasta, polenta, cauliflower rice, or if serving as a sandwich, cut hoagie rolls in half lengthwise. Remove the bread from the bottom half of each bun, being careful not to puncture the crust. Fill the bottom half of the bun with the sausage mixture.