When it comes to Italian cuisine, few dishes are as iconic as orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage. This classic combination of flavors and textures is a staple of Southern Italian cooking, and for good reason. The tender orecchiette pasta, the slightly bitter broccoli rabe, and the savory sausage come together to create a dish that is both hearty and flavorful. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting out, this guide will help you create a delicious and authentic orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage dish that will impress your friends and family.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
ORECCHIETTE WITH SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI
This orecchiette pasta dish is packed with flavor and quick to make -- and the whole family gobbles it up, broccoli and all.
Provided by Jennifer Segal, adapted from
Categories Dinner
Time 30m
Yield 4-6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orecchiette and cook according to package instructions.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium high heat. Crumble the sausage into the skillet and cook, breaking apart with a spoon, until lightly browned, 5-6 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and add the garlic; cook for 1 minute more.
- Add the remaining 4 tablespoons of olive oil, chicken broth, broccoli, salt and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently and scraping the bottom of the pan to release the flavorful brown bits, until the broccoli is tender-crisp, 3-4 minutes. Stir in the butter until melted and simmer for a few minutes to reduce and concentrate the sauce.
- Drain the pasta well and place back in the pasta pot. Add the sausage and broccoli mixture, along with half of the cheese, and toss to blend. Taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer to a serving platter or individual bowls and pass the remaining grated cheese at the table.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: This dish can be frozen for up to 3 months and reheated on the stovetop. If the dish has dried out a bit in the freezer, add a little water or broth while reheating. Just take care only to reheat it and not continue to cook it.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 624, Fat 28 g, Carbohydrate 64 g, Protein 29 g, SaturatedFat 10 g, Sugar 3 g, Fiber 2 g, Sodium 692 mg, Cholesterol 51 mg
ORECCHIETTE WITH BROCCOLI RABE & SAUSAGE
Provided by Ina Garten
Time 55m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prick the sausages with a fork and place them on a sheet pan. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until just cooked through. Slice 1/2 inch thick and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset. Add the sausage slices and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the pieces are browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and their juices, the red wine, tomato paste, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and let the mixture simmer over low heat while you prepare the pasta and broccoli.
- Bring a very large pot half filled with water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon of salt. Add the pasta and cook for 9 minutes exactly. While the pasta is cooking, trim the broccoli rabe to just below the leaves and discard the stems. Cut the leafy part of the broccoli rabe crosswise in 2-inch pieces. When the pasta has cooked for 9 minutes, add the broccoli rabe to the pasta and continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes, until the pasta is al dente and the broccoli is crisp-tender. Drain in a large colander, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, and add the pasta and broccoli to the pot with the tomato and sausage mixture. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and 1 teaspoon of salt. If the pasta seems dry, add some of the reserved cooking liquid. Taste for seasonings, and serve hot with extra Parmesan on the side.
ORECCHIETTE WITH SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI RABE RECIPE
Provided by Phil Torre
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Remove the sausage from the casing and crumble into small pieces.
- Wash the broccoli rabe under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Cut off and discard about one inch off bottom of stems. Cut remaining broccoli rabe with leaves into about 2 inch pieces.
- Bring a large pot of liberally salted water to a boil.
- In a large saute pan or skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the crumbled sausage and cook stirring and breaking up the sausage until cooked through and lightly browned.
- Using a slotted spoon remove the cooked sausage from the pan and set aside, leaving as much oil behind as possible to saute the garlic and broccoli rabe in, if needed add an extra tablespoon of olive oil.
- Drop the broccoli rabe into to the pot of boiling water.
- At the same time add the garlic to the saute pan and cook until lightly browned, about 1-2 minutes.
- Immediately remove the broccoli rabe from the pot using a mesh strainer or tongs (do not strain the whole pot, because you will be cooking the pasta in the same boiling water), shake excess water out and add to the pan with the garlic. Season with Salt and pepper. Cook stirring until broccoli rabe is tender, 3-5 minutes.
- Add the sausage back into the pan and toss to combine. Remove pan from the heat.
- Meanwhile add the orecchiette to the pot of boiling water that the broccoli rabe was cooked in. Cook until pasta is al dente, and strain.
- Place the pan with the broccoli rabe and sausage back over medium-high heat, and add the oricchiete. Toss together until well combined.
- Dish out the pasta to warm plates and serve with cheese on the side for sprinkling.
ORECCHIETTE WITH BROCCOLI RABE AND SAUSAGE
This is from "Lidia's Italian Table: Italian American Favorites" by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, author and host of the PBS television series of the same name. The shape of the pasta (orecchiette means "little ears" ) soaks up the flavorful sauce. This is a one-dish meal, very hearty and very satisfying. Serve with lots of crusty bread to soak up the sauce.
Provided by Epi Curious
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 30m
Yield 6 , 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring the chicken stock to a boil.
- Cook the orecchiette in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente; drain well.
- Meanwhile, in a large, deep skillet, heat the oil. Add the garlic and cook over moderately high heat until golden. Add the broccoli rabe, crushed red pepper and salt; cover and steam for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the hot chicken stock, sausage and butter and cook over high heat until the sauce reduces slightly, about 3 minutes.
- Add the orecchiette to the skillet and toss gently. Sprinkle half the Parmigiano on top and toss again. Serve immediately, sprinkled with the remaining cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 498.6, Fat 17.5, SaturatedFat 4.8, Cholesterol 20.7, Sodium 525.5, Carbohydrate 62.9, Fiber 5.5, Sugar 3.2, Protein 23.3
ORECCHIETTE WITH SPICY SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI RABE
Steps:
- 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 liquid. Set the broccoli rabe aside. Cook the orecchiette in the same pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
- Meanwhile, in a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil over a medium flame. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until the sausage is brown 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, 1/4 cup at a time, to moisten. Stir the Parmesan cheese, salt to taste, and pepper into the pasta mixture. Transfer to pasta bowls and serve.
BROCCOLI RABE AND SAUSAGE WITH ORECCHIETTE
Provided by Florence Fabricant
Categories dinner, weekday, casseroles, pastas, main course
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Rinse the broccoli rabe well and chop it in relatively small pieces. Set it aside. Remove the sausage from its casing and mash it.
- Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet. Add the sausage and cook it, mashing and stirring it, until it loses its redness. Add the garlic and saute another minute or two. Add the broccoli rabe and sprinkle with a little salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until the broccoli rabe is thoroughly wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Cover the skillet and remove it from the heat.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orecchiette and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain very well and transfer to a warm serving bowl.
- Reheat the contents of the skillet and spread over the orecchiette. Toss, then serve with a dusting of pecorino.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 722, UnsaturatedFat 26 grams, Carbohydrate 9 grams, Fat 55 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 49 grams, SaturatedFat 25 grams, Sodium 2083 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams
ORECCHIETTE WITH BROCCOLI RABE AND SPICY SAUSAGE
This pasta dish is from the Last Supper Club in San Francisco. Orecchiette means "little ears" and this pasta is sturdy enough to support the hearty sauce. If you are unable to find orecchiette you can use Farfalle.
Provided by cookiedog
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 50m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil with the salt. Add the broccoli rabe and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until soft. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Return the same pot of water to a boil, add the orecchiette and cook for 10 minutes, or until slightly undercooked. Drain, reserving the cooking water.
- Split the sausages lengthwise down the middle and remove from their casings.
- Heat the olive oil in a high-rimmed skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage meat, breaking it up as finely as possible. Add the broccoli and continue cooking and stirring until the broccoli breaks down to a saucelike texture.
- Add the chicken stock and orecchiette. Finish cooking the pasta in the sauce, being careful it doesn't stick. You may have to keep adding a little pasta water, additional stock or tap water until the pasta is soft yet chewy (al dente), making sure not to over-cook it.
- Finish the pasta by folding in the cheese, a few squeezes of lemon juice and the optional breadcrumbs.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 817.4, Fat 43.3, SaturatedFat 14.1, Cholesterol 77.5, Sodium 6875.9, Carbohydrate 66.8, Fiber 7.6, Sugar 3.8, Protein 41.4
ORECCHIETTE WITH SWEET SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI RABE PESTO
Provided by Florence Fabricant
Categories dinner, pastas, main course
Time 45m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring 3 quarts water to a boil in a pot and add 1 tablespoon salt. Add broccoli rabe and cook about 5 minutes, until tender. Drain and place in a large bowl of ice water. Drain and squeeze dry. Turn on a food processor and drop garlic in through the feed tube. Stop machine, scrape down sides and add broccoli rabe. Pulse until finely chopped. Stop machine. Add 6 tablespoons oil. Pulse until pesto comes together but is not creamy or thoroughly emulsified. Transfer to a bowl and fold in ¼ cup cheese.
- Heat remaining 4 tablespoons oil in a large sauté pan on low. Add fennel and onion, and cook until soft but not brown. Add sausage and cook, mashing it to a fine crumble, until it is no longer pink. Add chicken stock and cook until the stock has mostly evaporated and just glazes the sausage. Transfer sausage mixture to a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Return sausage to the pan. Fold in broccoli rabe pesto. Set aside.
- Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Add orecchiette and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes. Reheat sausage mixture and add about ½ cup of the pasta water. Drain pasta and add to pan with the sausage mixture. Toss ingredients together until pasta is evenly coated. Fold in remaining ½ cup cheese, check seasoning and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 731, UnsaturatedFat 24 grams, Carbohydrate 72 grams, Fat 35 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 32 grams, SaturatedFat 8 grams, Sodium 828 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams
Tips:
- Choose the right orecchiette pasta. Look for orecchiette that is made with high-quality semolina flour and has a slightly rough texture. This will help the sauce adhere to the pasta better.
- Cook the orecchiette pasta al dente. This means that the pasta should be cooked until it is tender but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked pasta will be mushy and will not hold the sauce as well.
- Use good quality sausage. For the best flavor, use a sausage that is made with fresh, high-quality meat. Avoid sausages that are made with fillers or preservatives.
- Sauté the sausage and broccoli rabe until they are browned. This will help to develop their flavor and make them more tender.
- Use a flavorful sauce. The sauce for this dish should be flavorful and robust. A simple tomato sauce or a red sauce with added spices are both good options.
- Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese. This will add a salty, nutty flavor to the dish.
Conclusion:
Orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage is a delicious and satisfying dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The combination of the tender orecchiette pasta, the savory sausage, and the slightly bitter broccoli rabe is simply irresistible. This dish is sure to please everyone at the table.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love