Longganisa Pasta with Garlic, Tomatoes, and Greens
Dan
Fil-Am pasta | Longganisa | Weeknight dinner
Longganisa pasta is garlicky, savory-sweet, and weeknight-friendly, with sausage crumbles, tomatoes, greens, and a little pasta water magic.
Why make it: This original version turns Filipino sausage into a practical pasta sauce without hiding its flavor.
Fresh From the Kitchen
These photos show the colors, textures, and serving style to look for when making Longganisa Pasta with Garlic, Tomatoes, and Greens.
What Is Longganisa Pasta with Garlic, Tomatoes, and Greens?
Longganisa pasta is a Filipino-American pasta riff that uses Filipino sausage as the main seasoning for noodles.
Why You Will Love It
- Practical for U.S. kitchens: the recipe uses ingredients and substitutions a home cook can realistically shop for.
- Built for the table: the serving notes match how the dish usually lands in Filipino-American homes, from weeknights to merienda to parties.
- Flexible without erasing the dish: swaps are named clearly so the original idea stays visible.
- Easy to cook through: the shopping list, timings, and storage notes make the recipe straightforward to test and adjust.
Ingredient Notes
For longganisa
Sweet or garlicky longganisa both work; remove casings so it crumbles.
For sauce
Pasta water helps the sausage drippings coat the noodles.
Longganisa Pasta with Garlic, Tomatoes, and Greens Recipe
This original version turns Filipino sausage into a practical pasta sauce without hiding its flavor.
Shopping List
- longganisa
- spaghetti or rigatoni
- garlic
- cherry tomatoes
- spinach
- calamansi or lemon
- parmesan optional
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 ounces spaghetti or rigatoni
- Salt for pasta water
Sauce
- 1 pound longganisa, casings removed
- 6 garlic cloves, sliced
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 3 cups spinach
- 1 tablespoon calamansi or lemon juice
For Serving
- Grated cheese, optional
- Chile flakes, optional
Instructions
- Boil pasta until just shy of al dente.
- Brown longganisa in a skillet, breaking it up.
- Add garlic and tomatoes and cook until tomatoes burst.
- Add spinach and a splash of pasta water.
- Toss in pasta and more pasta water as needed.
- Finish with calamansi or lemon.
- Serve with cheese if desired.
Tips For The Best Longganisa Pasta with Garlic, Tomatoes, and Greens
- Save pasta water: It turns drippings into sauce.
- Brown sausage well: Caramelized longganisa flavors the dish.
- Balance sweetness: Citrus helps if sausage is sweet.
- Add greens late: They should stay bright.
How To Serve And Store
Serve hot. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.
Common Questions
What longganisa should I use?
Use the style you like: sweet, garlicky, or spicy.
Can I use linguine?
Yes. Any medium pasta works.
Can I skip cheese?
Yes. It is optional.
Can I add cream?
A splash works, but keep it light.
Would you make longganisa pasta sweet, spicy, or extra garlicky? Share your family version or testing notes in the comments.
Recipe inspiration and technique reference: original Filipino-American riff development informed by Love, Filipino Food, Kitchen Confidante, The Dusky Kitchen, and the site roadmap.
