Ingredients

2 pounds Italian style lamb sausage, substitute with regular
Italian sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces
Olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
1 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped carrots
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
10 plum tomatoes, halves and pureed in the food processor (about 4 to 5 cups puree)
1/2 cup dry red wine

1 pound rigatoni
Grilled Portobellos, recipe follows
1/4 pound Pecorino Foje de Noce

Instructions

Heat a large Dutch over
medium-high heat. Add enough olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of the pan. Add the
sausage and cook just until well browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add the onions,
garlic, celery, and carrots and cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about 8
minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add the crushed red pepper flakes. Add the fresh
tomato puree and the red wine and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat and simmer gently for
30 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

Bring a large pasta pot of water to a boil. Season with salt. Add the rigatoni and cook
according to package directions, or until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain well.

Place the portobello mushrooms on the bottom of a large platter. Top with the drained
pasta. Pour the ragout over the pasta. Shave curls of the pecorino over the pasta with a
vegetable peeler. Grilled Portobellos:

4 portobello mushrooms, stems removed
Olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper Preheat a grill or a grill pan.

Drizzle both sides of the mushrooms with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place
on the grill and grill until tender, about 4 minutes per side.