Embark on a culinary journey to Southern Italy with orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage, a delectable dish that embodies the rustic charm and vibrant flavors of the region. This traditional pasta dish showcases the perfect harmony between earthy broccoli rabe, succulent sausage, and toothsome orecchiette pasta, all enveloped in a rich and flavorful sauce. Discover the art of crafting this dish from scratch with our step-by-step guide, offering variations for vegetarians and those seeking a spicy kick. Elevate your cooking skills and impress your loved ones with this authentic Italian delicacy, capturing the essence of Southern Italy in every bite.
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ORECCHIETTE WITH SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI
This orecchiette pasta dish is packed with flavor and quick to make -- and the whole family gobbles it up, broccoli and all.
Provided by Jennifer Segal, adapted from
Categories Dinner
Time 30m
Yield 4-6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orecchiette and cook according to package instructions.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium high heat. Crumble the sausage into the skillet and cook, breaking apart with a spoon, until lightly browned, 5-6 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and add the garlic; cook for 1 minute more.
- Add the remaining 4 tablespoons of olive oil, chicken broth, broccoli, salt and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently and scraping the bottom of the pan to release the flavorful brown bits, until the broccoli is tender-crisp, 3-4 minutes. Stir in the butter until melted and simmer for a few minutes to reduce and concentrate the sauce.
- Drain the pasta well and place back in the pasta pot. Add the sausage and broccoli mixture, along with half of the cheese, and toss to blend. Taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer to a serving platter or individual bowls and pass the remaining grated cheese at the table.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: This dish can be frozen for up to 3 months and reheated on the stovetop. If the dish has dried out a bit in the freezer, add a little water or broth while reheating. Just take care only to reheat it and not continue to cook it.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 624, Fat 28 g, Carbohydrate 64 g, Protein 29 g, SaturatedFat 10 g, Sugar 3 g, Fiber 2 g, Sodium 692 mg, Cholesterol 51 mg
ORECCHIETTE WITH BROCCOLI RABE AND SAUSAGE
Steps:
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage, and cook, turning occasionally until browned, about 10 minutes. Remove sausage to a plate and reserve pan and sausage drippings.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of cold water to a boil over high heat. Add a large pinch of salt and broccoli rabe and cook, uncovered, until broccoli rabe is bright green and tender but still slightly crisp, about 5 minutes. Immediately transfer broccoli rabe using tongs to a colander (reserve boiling water) and rinse under cold running water. Chop into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
- Add pasta to reserved boiling water and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente (tender but not mushy), about 12 minutes. Meanwhile, heat reserved pan and drippings over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until it is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add broccoli rabe, pepper flakes, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt; increase heat to medium-high, and cook, continually stirring, until broccoli rabe is hot and tender, about 5 minutes. Slice sausage into 1/4-inch thick coins and add to pan and mix well cook until sausage is warmed through, about 5 more minutes.
- Drain pasta in a colander in sink, reserving 1/4 cup of cooking liquid. Toss pasta and liquid with broccoli rabe mixture. Transfer pasta to a serving dish or individual bowls, garnish with Parmesean and serve.
ORECCHIETTE WITH SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI RABE RECIPE
Provided by Phil Torre
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Remove the sausage from the casing and crumble into small pieces.
- Wash the broccoli rabe under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Cut off and discard about one inch off bottom of stems. Cut remaining broccoli rabe with leaves into about 2 inch pieces.
- Bring a large pot of liberally salted water to a boil.
- In a large saute pan or skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the crumbled sausage and cook stirring and breaking up the sausage until cooked through and lightly browned.
- Using a slotted spoon remove the cooked sausage from the pan and set aside, leaving as much oil behind as possible to saute the garlic and broccoli rabe in, if needed add an extra tablespoon of olive oil.
- Drop the broccoli rabe into to the pot of boiling water.
- At the same time add the garlic to the saute pan and cook until lightly browned, about 1-2 minutes.
- Immediately remove the broccoli rabe from the pot using a mesh strainer or tongs (do not strain the whole pot, because you will be cooking the pasta in the same boiling water), shake excess water out and add to the pan with the garlic. Season with Salt and pepper. Cook stirring until broccoli rabe is tender, 3-5 minutes.
- Add the sausage back into the pan and toss to combine. Remove pan from the heat.
- Meanwhile add the orecchiette to the pot of boiling water that the broccoli rabe was cooked in. Cook until pasta is al dente, and strain.
- Place the pan with the broccoli rabe and sausage back over medium-high heat, and add the oricchiete. Toss together until well combined.
- Dish out the pasta to warm plates and serve with cheese on the side for sprinkling.
ORECCHIETTE WITH SPICY SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI RABE
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli rabe and cook until crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Strain the broccoli rabe, reserving all the cooking liquid. Set the broccoli rabe aside. Cook the orecchiette in the same pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
- Meanwhile, in a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil over a medium flame. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until the sausage is brown and juices form, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the broccoli rabe and toss to coat. Add the pasta and enough reserved cooking liquid, 1/4 cup at a time, to moisten. Stir the Parmesan cheese, salt to taste, and pepper into the pasta mixture. Transfer to pasta bowls and serve.
Tips:
- Use fresh broccoli rabe: For the best flavor and texture, use fresh broccoli rabe that is deep green in color and has tightly closed florets. If you can't find broccoli rabe, you can substitute another bitter green, such as arugula or dandelion greens.
- Don't overcook the broccoli rabe: Broccoli rabe cooks quickly, so be careful not to overcook it. It should be tender but still have a slight crunch.
- Use good-quality sausage: The sausage is a key ingredient in this dish, so it's important to use a good-quality sausage that you enjoy the flavor of. I recommend using a spicy Italian sausage or a sweet Italian sausage.
- Use a large pot: You'll need a large pot to cook the pasta and broccoli rabe in. Make sure the pot is large enough so that the pasta and broccoli rabe have plenty of room to cook.
- Season the pasta water: Be sure to season the pasta water with salt before cooking the pasta. This will help to flavor the pasta.
- Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese: Before serving, garnish the pasta with grated Parmesan cheese. This will add a delicious cheesy flavor to the dish.
Conclusion:
Orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage is a delicious and easy-to-make pasta dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The combination of bitter broccoli rabe, spicy sausage, and tender pasta is sure to please everyone at the table. This dish is also a great way to use up any leftover broccoli rabe or sausage that you may have on hand.
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