Orecchiette With Sausage, Cima di Rape, & Sun-dried Tomatoes
This is a tasty variation on Orecchiette con Cima di Rape, a traditional Italian favorite from Puglia. Orecchiette, meaning “little ears” in Italian, partners well with pleasantly bitter greens in the traditional recipe in which dried chili flakes are added. This recipe also includes sausage and sun-dried tomato pesto, and just a little Calabrian pepper pesto, creating an even heartier dish with very bold flavors.
Other Orecchiette Recipes:
Orecchiette With Broccoli Rabe & Sausage
Orecchiette With Broccoli Rabe & Sausage
Orecchiette With Sausage & Cauliflower
Deborah Mele
Orecchiette With Sausage, Cima di Rape, & Sun-dried Tomatoes
Yield:
Serves 4-6
Prep Time:
10 minutes
Cook Time:
30 minutes
Total Time:
40 minutes
A traditional pasta dish from Puglia with a unique spicy twist.
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Orecchiette Pasta
- 8 Ounces Spicy or Mild Italian Sausages, From Casings
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Bunch Broccoli Rabe, Cleaned And Cut Into 1 Inch Pieces
- Salt & Pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Calabrian Pepper Pesto or 1 Dash Of Red Pepper Flakes (Optional)
- 1/3 Cup Sun-dried Tomato Pesto
Choice Of Cheese To Serve:
- Freshly Grated Parmesan, Romano, or Salted Ricotta Are Good Choices
Pesto Ingredients:
- 2 Ounces Sun-dried Tomatoes Packed In Oil
- 2 Cloves Garlic, Chopped
- 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Salt & Pepper
- 1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Parsley
Instructions
- To make the pesto, add all the ingredients into a food processor and pulse until smooth.
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan or skillet, add the sausage meat and cook thoroughly.
- Cook the orecchiette in salted boiling water, adding the broccoli rabe to the pasta pot during the last 3 minutes of cooking.
- Once the pasta is cooked al dente, drain the pasta and broccoli rabe, retaining a small cup of the pasta water.
- Add the drained pasta and broccoli rabe combination to the skillet with the pesto.
- Mix well over high heat for a minute or two until piping hot.
- If the mixture seems at all dry, add a little of the pasta water to moisten.
- Serve offering your choice of cheese.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 527Total Fat: 36gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 641mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 19g