Ingredients
- 1 heaping tablespoon sea salt
- 1 pound imported orecchiette pasta
- 1 1/2 pounds broccoli rabe, stems cleaned, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 fillets imported salted anchovies, cleaned
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 12 ounces Italian sausage, casing removed
- 1/3 cup coarsely shredded ricotta salata
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Once the water has boiled, add the salt and the pasta, being sure to stir the pasta once added. Set the timer for half of the recommended cooking time. When the time is reached, add the rabe and continue to cook for the remaining recommended time. If al dente is desired, take 2 minutes off the total cooking time.
While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat.
Once the oil is shimmering, add the garlic, anchovies and crushed red pepper. Smash with the back of a wooden spoon to make a paste, and cook 1 minute, being sure not to burn the garlic. Add the sausage meat to the pan and break into small pieces. Cover the pan and adjust the heat to medium-low, being sure to stir frequently.
Drain the pasta and rabe, reserving 1 cup of water used to cook the pasta.
Add the pasta and rabe to the pan and cook an additional minute, adding pasta water to the sauce if the pan is dry, 1/4 cup at a time. Turn off the heat and add half of the cheese stirring to incorporate, saving the remaining cheese to add once the pasta has been plated.
Notes
Cook's Note: If imported salted anchovies cannot be found, substitute with oil-packed anchovies or anchovy paste. If imported ricotta salata cannot be found, substitute with imported pecorino Romano.
This recipe was provided by a chef, restaurant or culinary professional and may have been scaled down from a bulk recipe. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

















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By mainergirl
on January 17, 2013
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Made Ina Garten's version of this which is very similar. The rabe was VERY bitter and actually flavored the pasta with bitter taste as well. Will not make this again unless I learn something about rabe that will improve its taste.
By skrize
on January 07, 2013
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Made this easy recipe tonight. Very flavorful but then again I used very large cloves of garlic. This recipe also had the right amount of heat to it. I would suggest people who do not like spicy food to cut back on the red pepper flakes to at least half the recommended. Would definately keep this in my recipe book! Thank you!
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