Embark on a culinary journey with orecchiette, a delightful pasta shaped like little ears, originating from the sun-kissed region of Puglia, Italy. Indulge in three tempting variations, each bursting with unique flavors and textures. The first recipe pairs orecchiette with roasted fennel and sweet Italian sausage, creating a harmonious balance of earthy, sweet, and savory notes.
In the second rendition, orecchiette dances with broccoli rabe and toasted breadcrumbs, offering a symphony of bitter greens, nutty crumbs, and a hint of spice. And for a seafood extravaganza, the third recipe combines orecchiette with mussels, shrimp, and calamari, inviting you to dive into a briny, aromatic delight.
No matter your preference, these orecchiette recipes promise an unforgettable dining experience, capturing the essence of rustic Italian cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients and vibrant flavors.
ORECCHIETTE WITH FENNEL AND SAUSAGE
Orecchiette pasta, the "little ears" that are typical of the Apulia region in Italy's heel, is frequently prepared with sausage and broccoli rabe. For this recipe, I've swapped the broccoli rabe for a rich fennel component, which adds a distinctive flavor profile to the pasta dish. The preparation goes fairly quickly. And as an alternative to tossing the ingredients together before serving, it can be placed in an ovenproof casserole and baked, shingled generously with shards of pecorino on top. Baking at 350 degrees will take about 20 minutes, if the ingredients are hot.
Provided by Florence Fabricant
Categories pastas, main course
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oil in a 3-quart sauté pan on medium-low. Add the sausages and cook, turning frequently, until browned and cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove sausages to a cutting board. Add fennel seeds to the pan, cook until fragrant, then add fresh fennel, onion and garlic. Sauté until translucent and just starting to color, 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt. Turn off heat.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, 13 to 15 minutes. As the pasta cooks, quarter the sausages lengthwise, then slice 1/2-inch thick. Add sausage to the sauté pan and heat on medium-low. Stir in mascarpone and season generously with pepper. Add 1/2 cup pasta water. Stir and continue heating gently. Mince 2 tablespoons of reserved fennel fronds.
- When the pasta is done, reserve another 1/2 cup pasta water. Drain pasta - you don't have to be utterly thorough about it - and add it to the sauté pan along with enough additional pasta water for a mixture that's quite moist but not soupy. Check seasoning, fold in parsley and fennel fronds, and transfer to a serving dish, individual plates or bowls. Serve with pecorino alongside.
SAUSAGE & FENNEL ORECCHIETTE
Throw together orecchiette with sausages, fennel, broccoli and leek to make this easy dinner. Taking just 25 minutes, it's ideal for busy days
Provided by Liberty Mendez
Categories Dinner
Time 25m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Boil a large pan of salted water, turn the heat down to medium, then add the leek, sliced fennel and broccoli, and simmer for 3 mins until tender. Lift the veg out of the water using a slotted spoon, drain and set aside. Keep the pan of water on the heat, add the orecchiette and cook for around 11 mins, or until tender but still retaining some bite.
- Meanwhile, put a large frying pan over a high heat, add the olive oil and squeeze the sausagemeat out of the skins, tearing it into small pieces in the pan using a wooden spoon. Fry for 3-4 mins until golden brown and almost cooked, then add the garlic, fennel seeds and tomato purée, and fry for 30 seconds until aromatic. Add the blanched veg and grated carrot, and cook for another 4 mins. Tip in the tomatoes, bring to the boil, then simmer for around 4 mins until reduced slightly.
- Drain the pasta, reserving a cup of pasta water, and toss the pasta in the pan with the sausage and tomato sauce, adding a splash of pasta water to loosen. Season and serve with the reserved fennel fronds scattered over the top.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 527 calories, Fat 19 grams fat, SaturatedFat 6 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 62 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 11 grams sugar, Fiber 8 grams fiber, Protein 21 grams protein, Sodium 1 milligram of sodium
3-INGREDIENT ORECCHIETTE WITH SAUSAGE AND FENNEL
Be sure to add the sausage just before the last toss to maintain all those delicious crispy bits.
Provided by Dawn Perry
Categories 3-Ingredient Recipes Sausage Pasta Quick & Easy Fennel Dinner
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook sausage, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until cooked through and browned and crispy in spots, 6-8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a plate.
- Add sliced fennel to skillet; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Continue to cook, adding 1/4 cup water to skillet as bottom begins to brown (you may need to do this a few times), until soft and caramelized, 10-15 minutes more.
- Add pasta and reserved pasta cooking liquid to skillet and cook, tossing to coat, until liquid has reduced to a creamy sauce, about 4 minutes. Add sausage and fennel fronds, season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine.
ORECCHIETTE WITH FENNEL, SAUSAGE, AND SWEET PEPPERS
Orecchiette pasta with fennel, sausage, and sweet peppers.
Provided by Christopher Stolworthy
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta
Time 55m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
- Toss bell peppers and fennel with oil and thyme. Place vegetables on a baking sheet.
- Roast in the preheated oven until tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and shallot; saute until sausage is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease.
- Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in orecchiette and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 12 to 14 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water.
- Add orecchiette pasta, tomato paste, garlic, and roasted vegetables to the sausage in the skillet. Cook over medium heat until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in the reserved pasta water; simmer until sauce is reduced to your liking, 3 to 5 minutes more. Remove from heat and stir in basil before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 402.8 calories, Carbohydrate 50.8 g, Cholesterol 22.3 mg, Fat 15.4 g, Fiber 4.6 g, Protein 16 g, SaturatedFat 4.2 g, Sodium 495.2 mg, Sugar 4.4 g
ROASTED GARLIC AND SAUSAGE ORECCHIETTE
Nothing speaks to me quite like this pasta dish. It has all the elements I seek in my food, from crunchy textures to aromatic slaps of roasted garlic! I've had many versions of this dish in Italian restaurants but have yet to taste one that pairs the umami of roasted garlic with the crunchy broccoli rabe and crumbled pork sausage.
Provided by Jordan Andino
Categories main-dish
Time 30m
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- For the roasted garlic: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Stack three 12-by-12-inch sheets of foil on top of each other. Place the garlic cloves on the foil and pull up the sides to create a bowl. Pour in the oil and sprinkle in 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pull up the sides to create a pouch and seal it so the oil doesn't leak out. Place in the oven and roast for 12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and smash the garlic with a fork into a smooth paste. Set aside.
- For the pasta: Fill a large saucepan with 3 quarts (12 cups) of water and add 2 1/4 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil, then add the orecchiette and cook according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over high heat for 2 minutes. Add the olive oil, sausage, red pepper flakes and 2 1/4 teaspoons salt, and cook, breaking up the sausage, until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the broccoli rabe, the cooking water and roasted garlic puree to the pan and stir vigorously.
- Stir in the cooked orecchiette. Stir in the Parmesan and cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and the Parmesan melts, about 1 minute. Divide between plates and enjoy.
Tips:
- Choose the right orecchiette. Look for orecchiette that are small and ear-shaped. The best orecchiette will have a slightly rough texture, which will help the sauce cling to it.
- Roast the fennel before adding it to the pasta. Roasting the fennel will bring out its natural sweetness and flavor. You can roast the fennel in the oven or on the stovetop.
- Use a good quality sausage. The sausage is a key ingredient in this dish, so it's important to use a good quality sausage. Look for a sausage that is made with fresh, high-quality meat.
- Don't overcook the pasta. Orecchiette should be cooked al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. Overcooked orecchiette will be mushy and unpleasant to eat.
- Serve the pasta immediately. Orecchiette is best served immediately after it is cooked. The pasta will start to lose its flavor and texture if it sits for too long.
Conclusion:
Orecchiette with roasted fennel and sausage is a delicious and easy-to-make pasta dish. This dish is perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion. The combination of flavors and textures in this dish is sure to please everyone at your table.
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