Mini Penne with Spicy Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

By StacyP

Giada

Ingredients

• 1-2 bunches of broccoli rabe, stalks trimmed & quartered crosswise
• 12 oz mini penne, or orecchiette or farfalle
• 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

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli rabe and cook until crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Strain the broccoli rabe, reserving all the cooking water. Set the broccoli rage aside. Cook the pasta in the same pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally. Drain, reserve 1 cup of the cooking water.
Meanwhile, in a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until the sausage is browned and juices form, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the broccoli rabe and toss to coat. Add the pasta and enough reserved cooking liquid, ¼ cup at a time, to moisten. Stir the parmesan cheese, salt to taste, and pepper into the pasta mixture. Transfer to pasta bowls, serve!