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Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Broccolini

Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz orecchiette pasta
  • 1 lb. spicy Italian sausage casings removed
  • 1 bunch broccolini trimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes adjust to taste
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 cup reserved pasta water
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus extra for serving
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Prep the broccolini: Trim off the tough ends of the broccolini stems (about ½ inch) and cut the stalks into bite-sized pieces, keeping the florets mostly intact.
  • Blanch the broccolini: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add broccolini and cook for 2–3 minutes until bright green and just tender. Transfer to a kitchen towel dry and set aside.
  • Cook the pasta: In the same pot of salted water, add orecchiette and cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  • Cook the sausage: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking it into small pieces, until browned and cooked through, about 6–7 minutes.
  • Build the sauce: Add , garlic, onion and red pepper flakes. Cook until fragrant and translucent. ( 3-4 minutes.) deglaze the pan with the white wine, waiting until fully absorbed before proceeding. Then add the chicken stock, and pasta water, simmer for 5 minutes or until sauce begins to thicken.
  • Combine everything: Add pasta and blanched broccolini to the skillet, tossing with sausage. Gradually add reserved pasta water until the sauce lightly coats the pasta.
  • Finish and serve: Stir in Parmesan, season with salt and pepper, and toss well. Serve hot with extra cheese on top.