Pasta with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

Ingredients

• 1 pound broccoli rabe, trimmed of damaged leaves
• 1 pound orecchiette or other pasta noodle
• 2 tablespoons water
• 4 to 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1/2 pound Italian sausage, cut into quarter-inch slices
• Salt
• 1 cup coarse, seasoned bread crumbs, toasted, optional garnish
• Pecorino Romano or Parmesan, optional garnish

Directions

Cut the broccoli rabe into 3 to 4 inch pieces, discarding the stems. In a large pot of rapidly boiling water, blanch the broccoli rabe until tender and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Before you drain broccoli rabe, reserve 1 cup of cooking liquid. Drain and rinse the broccoli rabe with cold water until it has cooled off. Spread it out on a towel to finish draining.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to package directions until al dente.

While the pasta is cooking, place 2 tablespoons of water into a cold skillet with garlic and sausage and then turn heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden and sausage is cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Pour reserved broccoli water into pan with sausage.

When the pasta is cooked, drain it and place back in pot you cooked it in and season with salt. Pour sausage sauce over pasta and stir in cooked broccoli rabe. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve immediately.

If the Queen's coming to dinner: Garnish with fresh bread crumbs and/or freshly grated pecorino Romano or parmesan cheese.