Sweet Italian Sausage & Broccoli Rabe Orecchiette

✨Sweet Italian Sausage & Broccoli Rabe Orecchiette✨ I was craving something healthy and decided to make this classic. The chicken stock adds so much flavor and helps to remove the bitterness of the broccoli rabe. And I used lots and lots of parm 🧀🥦 Full recipe at the link in my bio!

By @thepastatable

Original recipe source

Cook time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 0.5 lb orecchiette
• 0.5 cup pasta water
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 0.5 lb sweet Italian sausage
• 4 cloves garlic cloves
• 0.25 tsp crushed red chili flakes
• 4 cloves garlic cloves
• 0.25 tsp crushed red chili flakes
• 0.5 bunch broccoli rabe
• 0.33 cup chicken broth
• 0.5 lb orecchiette
• 0.5 cup pasta water
• 1 to taste salt
• 1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Add 1/2 lb. orecchiette to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 9-11 minutes.
3. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the orecchiette and set aside.
4. Heat 2 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
5. Remove the casing from 1/2 lb. of sweet Italian sausage and add it to the skillet. Break the sausage into small pieces with a spatula.
6. Cook the sausage until browned, about 5-7 minutes, then add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp crushed red chili flakes.
7. Sauté the garlic and chili flakes with the sausage for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.
8. Add 1/2 bunch of cleaned and roughly chopped broccoli rabe to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes.
9. Pour 1/3 cup of chicken broth into the skillet and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
10. Combine the cooked orecchiette with the sausage and broccoli rabe in the skillet. Add reserved pasta water if needed.
11. Season with salt to taste and stir in 1 cup of finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
12. Toss everything together until the pasta is well coated and cheese is melted.