Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Barefoot Contessa
Introducing the Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe recipe from Barefoot Contessa. This delightful pasta dish combines the hearty flavors of sausage and the slightly bitter taste of broccoli rabe for a satisfying meal. Orecchiette pasta, with its unique ear-shaped shells, perfectly captures the flavors of the ingredients. Together, these ingredients create a mouthwatering combination that will leave you craving for more.
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Servings: 4 people
Calories: 420kcal
Equipment
- large skillet
- wooden spoon
- Slotted spoon
- Large pot (for boiling pasta)
- Colander (for draining pasta)
- Cooking utensils
- knife
- Serving bowls or plates
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1/2 cup good olive oil
- 2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 pound broccoli rabe, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- Kosher salt
- 1 pound orecchiette pasta
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sweet Italian sausage, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon.Cook the sausage, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes until it's browned and fully cooked.Transfer the cooked sausage to a bowl using a slotted spoon, leaving the fat in the skillet.
- In the same skillet, add the olive oil and heat over medium heat.Add the thinly sliced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes to the skillet.Cook for 1 minute, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
- Add the trimmed and cut broccoli rabe to the skillet.Season with salt and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until the broccoli rabe is tender.
- Meanwhile, cook the orecchiette pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water for 9 to 11 minutes or until al dente.Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the pasta cooking water and drain the pasta.
- Add the cooked orecchiette pasta to the skillet with the broccoli rabe and sausage.Toss everything together, adding enough of the reserved pasta water to make a creamy sauce.Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts.
- Serve the Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe hot and enjoy the delicious flavors!