1. Determine Ingredients: Gather your main components like Italian sausages, bell peppers, onions, olive oil, garlic (optional), and seasonings. Ensure your ingredients are fresh.
2. Prepare Vegetables: Wash the bell peppers thoroughly and slice them into strips. Thinly slice the onions and set them aside.
3. Heat Olive Oil: Warm a few tablespoons of olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat.
4. Sauté Vegetables: Add the sliced bell peppers and onions to the pan and cook them until softened, around 5-7 minutes. If desired, sauté minced garlic for an additional minute for aroma.
5. Cook Sausages: Push the vegetables to one side of the pan. Add the sausages, ensuring they have sufficient space. Cook sausages until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes.
6. Season the Dish: Combine the sausages and vegetables. Add Italian herbs, salt, and pepper to taste. If you prefer spiciness, incorporate red pepper chili flakes.
7. Add Tomato Base (Optional): For a richer flavor, include tomato paste or diced tomatoes with the sautéed mix for a saucier consistency.
8. Deglaze (Optional): If using Marsala wine or chicken broth, deglaze the pan to enhance flavor, scraping any browned bits that stick to the bottom.
9. Cover and Simmer: Reduce heat to low, cover the pan, and allow the dish to simmer for 10-15 minutes. This ensures the sausages cook through while melding all flavors.
10. Serve: Select how you’d like to present the dish. Serve the sausages and peppers in sub rolls for hearty sandwiches, over mashed potatoes, pasta, or polenta, or enjoy them as is with a salad.