Whole Wheat Pasta with Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Pesto

By ForkAndTheCork

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Ingredients

• Coarse salt
• 1 bunch broccoli rabe, tough stems removed
• 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
• 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 pound spicy turkey sausage, sliced 3/4 inch thick
• 1 pound whole-wheat linguine

Preparation

Step 1

1.Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Blanch broccoli rabe until just tender, about 1 minute. Reserving cooking water, transfer broccoli to an ice-water bath until cool, then drain.

2.Pulse broccoli, pine nuts, and Parmesan in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Drizzle in 1/3 cup oil and process until smooth. Season with salt and red-pepper flakes.

3.Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Brown sausage, turning, until cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.

4.Meanwhile, cook pasta in reserved water according to package instructions. Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups cooking water.

5.Toss pasta, pesto, and sausage, gradually adding cooking water until you get a creamy consistency. Serve with Parmesan and a drizzle of oil.