pork sausage, casing removed • yellow onion, finely chopped • garlic, thinly sliced • crushed red pepper flakes • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste • bay leaf • saffron threads (optional) if using regular malloreddus • vernaccia di Oristano or dry vermouth • (794 g) can whole peeled tomatoes • Kosher salt • (1+ lb) saffron malloreddus (also known as Sardinian gnocchi) or regular malloredus • pasta water •