Orecchiette with Spicy Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

By lindybug

Ingredients

• 2 bunches of broccoli rabe, stalks trimmed and quartered crosswise
• 12 oz orecchiette or farfalle
• Salt
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb spicy pork sausage, casings removed
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• Pinch of dried crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Step 1

1. Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add broccoli rabe and cooku until crisp tender, about 1 min. Strain broccoli rabe, reserving all cooking liquid. Set broccoli rabe aside. Cook pasta in the same pot of boiling water until al dente, stirring occasionally about 8 min. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.

2. Meanwhile, in large heavy skillet heat oil over a medium flame. Add sausage and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until sausage is brown and juices form, about 8 min. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add broccoli rabe and toss to coat. Add pasta and enough reserved cooking liquid, 1/4 cup at a time to moisten. Stir in Parmesan, salt to taste and pepper into pasta mixture. Transfer to serving bowl.