Italian Drunken Noodles

An Italian spin on a classic Thai dish, Italian Drunken Noodles are made with wide egg noodles, tomato sauce, Italian sausage, fresh basil and peppers for an incredibly flavorful and easy dish made in just 29 minutes!

WHY DO THEY CALL THEM DRUNKEN NOODLES?
I’ve heard many stories about where the name “drunken noodles” came from in Thai cuisine. Some say it came from a drunk person tossing several things from their refrigerator into one dish to soak up the alcohol. Another story goes that you need to have a drink with the noodles because the dish tends to be on the spicy side.

While the origination of the name is still up for debate, there is no alcohol found in traditional Thai drunken noodles, or in this dish for Italian drunken noodles.

ITALIAN DRUNKEN NOODLES WITH SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS
To make this delicious Italian spin on the traditional Thai dish, you simply boil wide egg noodles until al dente, simmer Italian sausage with peppers, tomato sauce and Italian seasonings, then toss it all together with fresh tomato wedges and basil.

This recipe for Italian Drunken Noodles is on the spicy side. If you want to tone it down, substitute sweet Italian sausage for the spicy Italian sausage and omit the crushed red peppers.

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb italian sausage
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp italian seasoning
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 red pepper, diced
1 yellow pepper, diced
1 orange pepper, diced
4 clove garlic, pressed
1/2 c white wine (like chardonnay)
1 can(s) diced tomatoes with juice (28 ounce)
2 Tbsp parsley
1/4 c basil, fresh
8 oz egg noodles

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place a large, heavy-bottom pan or braising pot over medium-high heat; add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and once the oil is hot, crumble the spicy Italian sausage in the pan to small chunks allowing it to brown in the oil for a few moments. Once the crumbled sausage is browned, remove it from the pan/pot with a slotted spoon and place into a small bowl to hold for a moment.
2. Place in pan the diced bell peppers, salt, Italian seasoning and cracked black pepper, and stir to combine. Allow those to saute for about 2 minutes until slightly tender.
3. Next add in the garlic, and once it becomes aromatic, add in the white wine and allow it to reduce for a few moments, until almost completely reduced. Add in the diced tomatoes with their juice, and return the browned spicy Italian sausage back into the pan, and gently fold the mixture to combine; allow it to gently simmer for about 3-4 minutes to blend the flavors, then turn the heat off.
4. To finish the sauce, drizzle in about 2-3 good tablespoons of the olive oil to create a silky, rich flavor, and add in the chopped parsley and about half of the julienned basil; stir, and keep warm while you prepare the noodles.
5. Prepare the egg noodles according to instructions on package; then, drain the noodles very well, and add them directly into the sauce, using tongs to gently toss and combine the egg noodles with the sauce and all of the ingredients in it; check the seasoning to see if you need to add any additional salt or pepper.
6. To serve, add equal portions of the “Drunken” noodles to bowls, and garnish with a sprinkle of the remaining julienned basil; you can even top with shaved Parmesan, if desired, and an extra drizzle of olive oil.
7. Enjoy!