Spicy Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Pasta
Spicy Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Pasta
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 12 ounces orecchiette pasta
- 1 pound spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 bunch broccoli rabe, about 1 pound, tough ends trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 4 garlic, cloves, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more, to taste
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add the orecchiette pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, usually 9 to 11 minutes. Before draining, reserve 1 1/2 cups of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
⏱️ 12 min - 2
While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks, until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the cooked sausage to a plate, leaving any rendered fat in the skillet.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the same skillet. Add the sliced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 1 min - 4
Add the trimmed broccoli rabe to the skillet. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until the broccoli rabe is bright green and slightly tender, about 5 to 7 minutes. If the skillet seems dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
⏱️ 7 min - 5
Return the cooked sausage to the skillet with the broccoli rabe. Pour in the chicken broth and 1 cup of the reserved pasta water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to slightly reduce.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Add the cooked orecchiette pasta to the skillet. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and the juice of 1/2 lemon. Toss vigorously to combine, adding more reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if the sauce seems too thick, until the pasta is well coated and glossy. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Serve immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Spicy Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Pasta
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 12 ounces orecchiette pasta
- 1 pound spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 bunch broccoli rabe, about 1 pound, tough ends trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 4 garlic, cloves, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more, to taste
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add the orecchiette pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, usually 9 to 11 minutes. Before draining, reserve 1 1/2 cups of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
⏱️ 12 min - 2
While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks, until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the cooked sausage to a plate, leaving any rendered fat in the skillet.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the same skillet. Add the sliced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 1 min - 4
Add the trimmed broccoli rabe to the skillet. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until the broccoli rabe is bright green and slightly tender, about 5 to 7 minutes. If the skillet seems dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
⏱️ 7 min - 5
Return the cooked sausage to the skillet with the broccoli rabe. Pour in the chicken broth and 1 cup of the reserved pasta water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to slightly reduce.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Add the cooked orecchiette pasta to the skillet. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and the juice of 1/2 lemon. Toss vigorously to combine, adding more reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if the sauce seems too thick, until the pasta is well coated and glossy. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Serve immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 1 min