Pasta Sauce to make you Hoppy! w/ Elk Sausage

My inspiration for this dish came from the blog The Ruling Glass although I have altered the recipe extensively.  If you remove the Elk Sausage (or any meat you like) then this dish is completely Vegan friendly.  I just happened to have elk sausage and I like meat.

This recipe will make a ton of sauce so be ready to have a group over or have freezer containers ready.

Ingredients list:

1 Head of garlic pealed and diced
Olive Oil (preferably extra virgin)
2 Cans of diced tomato 24-28oz
2 small cans of tomato paste
1/2 a Zucchini
Mushrooms around a dozen
1 or 2 Onions (I used 1)
1/2 to 1 Green and Red Pepper
Optional 2 or more Elk Sausage (Or any other Meat)
Red Chilli Pepper Flakes
Salt
Pepper
650ml bottle of a double India Pale Ale (Fat Tug IPA – Driftwood Brewing) (half for food half for you!)

First step is to cut the Sausage up into small chunks

Next chop up all the Vegetables to desired size.  Dice the garlic fairly small.

Take a small frying pan and start frying the Sausage on Medium until fully browned.  Season with Salt Pepper and Chilli Flakes.  Then remove from heat.
 

In a second larger frying pan start frying the Onions and Mushrooms on medium adding enough Olive Oil to coat bottle of pan.  Season with Salt, Pepper and Chilli Flakes.
     

When you are happy the Onions and Mushrooms are sauteed add the Zucchini, Red Peppers and Green Peppers.  Saute these until they are fully cooked then remove from heat.
 

Next get a Large Pot!  Add enough Olive Oil to coat the bottom of pan and heat at Medium.  Once hot add Garlic to pot and season with Salt, Pepper and Chilli Flakes.

Fry the Garlic in the pot until it softens and browns up a bit.

This is where it gets good!  Grab your 650ml bottle of Double IPA and pour half the bottle into the pot (The other half into a glass to drink).  Also add both cans of Tomato Paste.
   

Stir the sauce until it is mixed well then add both cans of Tomatoes the Meat and all Vegetables and stir well.  Season more if you like.  I did!
     

Leave temperature at Medium and let the sauce start to bubble.

Once bubbling turn the sauce down to low and let simmer.  Simmer for 3 to 3.5 hours stirring often.  If the seasoning is still not right add more.

The last step is to cook up your favorite style of pasta and enjoy!

Between My Girlfriend, a Friend and I we all agreed this tasted awesome!  The Double IPA really adds an earthy and herbal flavour to the Pasta sauce with compliments the Vegetables and spices well.  I found the Elk Sausage at a Butcher Shop in the Vancouver East Village near Hastings and Nanaimo.  It is called Rio Friendly Meats.