Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage
Orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage is one of my go-to dinners and I have a feeling it might become one of yours too! My favorite thing about orecchiette is it's cup shape makes it the perfect vessel to carry bits of crispy sausage, garlicky broccoli rabe and salty parmesan cheese. It's heavenly!
Servings: 5
Calories: 790kcal
Ingredients
- 1 lb broccoli rabe or broccolini
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage casings removed
- 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced or grated
- 1 lb orecchiette pasta or any short-cut pasta shape
- 1/2 c grated parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper optional
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch the broccoli rabe until bright green and tender, about 2 minutes. Use tongs or a wire mesh skimmer to remove the broccoli from the water then transfer it directly into an ice bath. Leave the broccoli in the ice water for 3 minutes, or until cool. Then transfer the it to a colander and leave it to drain well for a few minutes.
- Cook the pasta to al dente in the same pot you just blanched the broccoli in. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While the pasta is cooking, place a large saute pan or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, then the sausage. Cook the sausage until golden brown, stirring occasionally and breaking up any large pieces with the back of a wooden spoon. After about 5 minutes, add in the garlic.
- Give the blanched broccoli a rough chop and then add it into the pan along with the sausage and give everything a good stir. Next add the cooked pasta and a generous splash of pasta water to the pan. Cook everything together for another 2-3 minutes.
- Divide the pasta between plates or shallow bowls, top each portion with a hefty sprinkle parmesan and chili flake and serve immediately!
Notes
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:
- Sausage: Pork, chicken or even a vegetarian sausage would work just fine. I recommend mild Italian but if you like a little extra heat you could so with spicy.
- Broccoli Rabe: You can use broccoli rabe, broccolini or even a regular bunch of broccoli cut into florets.
- Orecchiette: Orecchiette is a pretty common pasta shape these days. If you can't find it you can substitute another short-cut pasta like; farfalle, penne, rigatoni etc.
- Leftovers can be stored covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat over low heat in a saucepan or in the microwave. Add a few tablespoons of water to loosen up the sauce as needed.
Nutrition
Calories: 790kcal | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 880mg | Potassium: 641mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2584IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 225mg | Iron: 4mg