Orecchiette with Sausage & Swiss Chard

By Brie

This is a hearty dish that packs a ton of savory flavor. It is sure to become a filling favorite in the cooler weather months!

Ingredients

• 1 Lb Orecchiette pasta
• 1 Lb Spicy Italian sausage
• 1 Lb Swiss chard rough chopped with stems (1/4" wide)
• 1 cup Cooked Cannellini beans (drained and rinsed)
• 8 oz Pasta water
• 1/2 cup Chopped parsley
• 1 tablespoon Lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil

Preparation

Step 1

Bring 5 quarts of water to a boil with 3 tablespoons of kosher salt. Cook the pasta until very al dente, about 8 minutes. Remove the pasta to a bowl with a slotted spoon and set it aside. Do not rinse the pasta. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before discarding.

Heat a large Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the sausage and brown. Add the Swiss chard and cook down for 2 minutes. Add the reserved pasta water and simmer for 1 minute. Add the beans and pasta and simmer until pasta is done, about 2 more minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and zest, cheese, parsley, butter, and extra virgin olive oil and it is ready to serve.