Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Orecchiette
Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Orecchiette
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 1 pound orecchiette pasta
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed, crumbled
- 4 garlic, cloves, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1 1/2 pounds broccoli rabe, tough ends trimmed, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup chicken broth, or vegetable broth
For Finishing
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling, optional
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the orecchiette pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water, then drain the pasta.
⏱️ 12 min
- 2
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the crumbled Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving any rendered fat in the skillet.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the thinly sliced garlic and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 2 min
- 4
Add the chopped broccoli rabe to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until it wilts and becomes tender-crisp, about 5-7 minutes. If the skillet seems dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
⏱️ 7 min
- 5
Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Return the cooked sausage to the skillet.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Add the drained orecchiette pasta to the skillet with the sausage and broccoli rabe. Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water and the 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Toss everything together vigorously until the pasta is well coated and a light sauce forms, adding more pasta water a tablespoon at a time if needed to achieve desired consistency.
⏱️ 4 min
- 7
Season with freshly ground black pepper and additional kosher salt to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with extra grated Parmesan cheese and an optional drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Orecchiette
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 1 pound orecchiette pasta
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed, crumbled
- 4 garlic, cloves, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1 1/2 pounds broccoli rabe, tough ends trimmed, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup chicken broth, or vegetable broth
For Finishing
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling, optional
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the orecchiette pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water, then drain the pasta.
⏱️ 12 min - 2
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the crumbled Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving any rendered fat in the skillet.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the thinly sliced garlic and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 2 min - 4
Add the chopped broccoli rabe to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until it wilts and becomes tender-crisp, about 5-7 minutes. If the skillet seems dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
⏱️ 7 min - 5
Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Return the cooked sausage to the skillet.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Add the drained orecchiette pasta to the skillet with the sausage and broccoli rabe. Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water and the 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Toss everything together vigorously until the pasta is well coated and a light sauce forms, adding more pasta water a tablespoon at a time if needed to achieve desired consistency.
⏱️ 4 min - 7
Season with freshly ground black pepper and additional kosher salt to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with extra grated Parmesan cheese and an optional drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
⏱️ 2 min