Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage

Name: Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 lb orecchiette pasta; 1 lb hot Italian sausage, casings removed; 1 lb broccoli rabe (rapini), trimmed, chopped; 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced; 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes; 6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; 1 cup reserved pasta cooking water; 2 tbsp kosher salt (for pasta water); 1/2 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, grated

A hearty southern Italian pasta dish of chewy ear-shaped orecchiette tossed with spicy Italian sausage and pleasantly bitter broccoli rabe in a garlicky olive oil sauce.

35 minMediumServes 4560 cal/serving

ItalianDinnerStovetopStandardLow-SodiumAlcohol-FreeCorn-Free

Ingredients

1 lb orecchiette pasta
1 lb hot Italian sausage, casings removed
1 lb broccoli rabe (rapini), trimmed, chopped
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup reserved pasta cooking water
2 tbsp kosher salt (for pasta water)
1/2 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, grated

Instructions

1

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add 2 tbsp kosher salt (for pasta water), and cook 1 lb orecchiette pasta until 2 minutes shy of al dente. In the last 2 minutes, add 1 lb trimmed, chopped broccoli rabe (rapini) to the boiling water. Reserve 1 cup reserved pasta cooking water, then drain pasta and broccoli rabe together.
2

Meanwhile, heat half the 6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb casings removed hot Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C), about 7 minutes. Remove sausage from pan.
3

Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining olive oil to the same skillet. Add 6 thinly sliced garlic cloves and 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes and cook until garlic turns golden, about 2 minutes.
4

Add the drained pasta and broccoli rabe to the skillet, then return the sausage. Toss everything together, splashing in 1 cup reserved pasta cooking water as needed to loosen the sauce and help it cling to the pasta.
5

Remove from heat. Taste for seasoning and serve with 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese on top.

Questions

Can I make Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 1/2 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, grated. Swap the cheese for a plant-based melting cheese (expect a milder flavor). The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 1 lb orecchiette pasta, 1 cup reserved pasta cooking water, 2 tbsp kosher salt (for pasta water). Swap the pasta for a gluten-free one, cooked a minute short of its package time. Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. Reheat gently on the stovetop.

Can I halve or double Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage?

Yes. As written it serves 4. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. When doubling on the stovetop, use your widest pan or work in two batches so the food sears instead of steaming.

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