Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage

If there’s one dish that I would label as a staple of Southern Italian cuisine it would be this one. It’s delicious, it’s simple and remind everyone of their nonna.

Ingredients

3 pieces of sweet fennel sausage

3 pieces of hot sausage

2 bunches of broccoli rabe

1 pound orecchiette

4 cloves of garlic

3 tablespoons evoo

1 teaspoon Calabrian chili peppers in oil

1 cup reserved pasta water

salt to taste

Directions

In a large pan heat oil, garlic and the Calabrian chili peppers on medium heat until it begins to brown.

Take sausage out of the casings and break into pieces. Add it to the pan and cook for 8-10 minutes on medium heat.

Wash your broccoli rabe thoroughly and cut the ends off.

Add the broccoli rabe to the pan with the sausage and cook covered for 20-25 minutes or until tender on low heat.

Bring water to a boil in another pot and cook orecchiette according to package instructions.

Drain pasta and add it to your broccoli rabe and sausage. Toss everything together to get your pasta coated in all juice. If it’s too dry add your cup of reserved pasta water.

Serve immediately.

Buon appetito!